Final day arrived and the hush that surrounded the teams preparations was almost deafening. For most players it would be their first final in any sport, and with the expectations of being favourites forced upon the team thanks to previous results, the burden was beginning to show.
Preparations were exhaustive, and each player chose to get into ‘the zone’ in his own way.
The toss followed the national anthems of both teams, Estonia and fellow combatants the Czech republic. The Czech team had already fallen victim to the Estonia team in a previous group game and was now ready for revenge.
With Heath losing his first toss in five games, the omens began to cry in the favour of an upset. The Czech team elected to take the initiative by batting first, a decision that was to prove ultimately costly.
The Estonian team looked nervous and despite their previous success with the ball, the bowlers also seemed rather tentative. This slow start was compounded by the aggressive approach of Sudhita, the Czech opener who signaled his intentions from the first over.
After four overs and one wicket the Estonian team began to relax and after ten overs began to pull back the reins of the oppositions early charge.
With the Czech innings fluctuating from quick run scoring to slow progress, Estonian eventually finished their 20 over spell having conceded 122 runs, a score that on retrospect skipper Tim Heath would have happily taken before the start of the game.
If the nerves were palpable before, the start of the Estonian innings was fearless and Brutal. Tim Filer struck several early blows with some delightfully elegant stroke play, whilst Anil Puri cleverly rotated the strike. However with blood pumping faster than an express train, Filer found himself running for a second run that only a 20-year-old Puri could have made. Next to bat was Barry whose approach was to slow down any initiative that the Czech team may have gleaned from Filer’s demise and to gradually put the team into a winning position.
However with Heath and Slobedetski quickly dispatched to clubhouse after Puri was bowled middle stump, the door was wide open for the Czech team to successfully complete a remarkable comeback. However up stepped the batsman of Murali Obili, Nand lal, and Siva, all of whom contributed to nearing Estonia to the finishing line. With two overs to go 16 was required. One over to go eight were needed. Five balls to go, 6 were needed, and with four balls to go 4 was all that was required to bring the cup home to Estonia. The flashing blade of Nand Lal, who only 3 days before was on a heart monitor in the local hospital, pierced the inner ring of the Czech team and ran majestically (willed on by this reporter) to the boundary for four.
With the tension now a distant memory, the team celebration was now in full flow and an appreciative crowd welcomed the Estonian team to the podium to collect a well deserved trophy, crowning them the EuroTwenty20 champions of 2008.
Final comment from this reporter is to acknowledge all those players, supporters and administrators both on tour and those back in Estonia who have contributed to this famous victory.
| Czech 1st XI Vs Estonian 1st XI |
| 1-Innings Match Played At Eurotwenty20, 20-Jul-2008, 2008 Internationals |
| Estonian 1st XI Win by 4 wkts |
| Toss won by |
Czech 1st XI |
| Player / Match |
ECA:Lal, Nand |
| Czech 1st XI 1st Innings 9/122 Closed (Overs 20) |
| Batsman |
Fieldsman |
Bowler |
Runs |
4s |
6s |
| Jinrar |
|
b Siva Arunachalam |
16 |
0 |
0 |
| Stary |
c Oliver Slovodetsk |
b Tim Heath |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Suditha |
|
b Tim Filer |
45 |
0 |
0 |
| Scott |
|
b Nand Lal |
24 |
0 |
0 |
| Manjeet |
not out |
|
7 |
0 |
0 |
| Lawerence |
|
b Tim Filer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Banks |
run out Tim Filer |
|
8 |
0 |
0 |
| Manish |
|
b Nand Lal |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Steve |
run out Oliver Slovodets. |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Tim |
run out Nand Lal |
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Sunny Roy |
not out |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
| extras |
|
(b0 lb1 w17 nb0) |
18 |
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
9 wickets for |
122 |
|
|
| Bowler |
O |
M |
R |
W |
wd |
nb |
| Murali Obili |
4 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Tim Heath |
4 |
0 |
24 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Siva Arunachalam |
2 |
0 |
21 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Jason Barry |
3 |
0 |
18 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Tim Filer |
4 |
1 |
11 |
2 |
- |
- |
| Nand Lal |
3 |
0 |
29 |
2 |
- |
- |
| Estonian 1st XI 1st Innings 6/124 Closed (Overs 20) |
| Batsman |
Fieldsman |
Bowler |
Runs |
4s |
6s |
| Anil Puri |
|
b Lawerence |
14 |
0 |
0 |
| Tim Filer |
run out Jinrar |
|
23 |
4 |
0 |
| Jason Barry |
|
b Suditha |
15 |
2 |
0 |
| Tim Heath* |
st ? |
b Suditha |
7 |
1 |
0 |
| Oliver Slovodetsky+ |
|
b Manish |
5 |
0 |
0 |
| Nand Lal |
not out |
|
18 |
2 |
0 |
| Siva Arunachalam |
run out Manish |
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Murali Obili |
not out |
|
10 |
1 |
0 |
| extras |
|
(b3 lb4 w22 nb0) |
29 |
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
6 wickets for |
124 |
|
|
| Bowler |
O |
M |
R |
W |
wd |
nb |
| Manish |
4 |
0 |
22 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Manjeet |
3 |
0 |
14 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Scott |
4 |
0 |
24 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Jinrar |
4 |
0 |
24 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Lawerence |
2 |
0 |
16 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Suditha |
3 |
0 |
17 |
2 |
- |
- |
|
