Estonia arrived at the Carmel ground full of hope and excitement for their opening encounter in the Euro twenty20 tournament hosted by Carmel Cricket Club. ‘Local’ rivals Russia provided the opposition and was to prove a tough test for the Estonian side against what most had thought were the tournament favourites.
Estonian captain Tim Heath won the toss and opted for a bat. After an initial early wicket lost to the ‘Red Devils’ bowling attack, Tim Filer and Heath piled on the runs until Filers fine innings (31) came to an abrupt end. Old stager Jason Barry, fresh from the islands of the south seas, then set about the bowling to record a 58 not out ably supported by a fine innings by vice captain Oliver Slobedetski (30).
With a total of 165 on the board, the highest of the tournament so far, Estonian set about defending their score with some aggressive and direct bowling. Tim Filers contribution to the game continued with an impressive spell of slow medium, finishing with figures of 4 –13. Despite sporadic flourishes from a couple of the Russian batsman, the total remained an ever-distant target mainly thanks to the efforts of a fielding display which redefined the words ‘good’ and excellent’! Estonia ran out victors by 31 runs.
Man of the Match; Tim Filer
Written by Jason Barry

| Estonian 1st XI Vs Russia 1st XI |
| 1-Innings Match Played At Eurotwenty20, 14-Jul-2008, 2008 Internationals |
| Estonian 1st XI Win by 31 runs |
| Toss won by |
Estonian 1st XI |
| Player / Match |
ECA:Filer, Tim |
| Estonian 1st XI 1st Innings 5/165 Closed (Overs 20) |
| Batsman |
Fieldsman |
Bowler |
Runs |
4s |
6s |
| A Puri |
c Saqib |
b Ashwani |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Tim Filer |
c Manoj |
b Minish |
31 |
5 |
0 |
| Tim Heath* |
|
b Ashwani |
21 |
3 |
1 |
| N Lal |
c Jigar |
b Yogesh |
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Oliver Slovodetsky+ |
run out Saqib |
|
30 |
4 |
0 |
| Jason Barry |
not out |
|
58 |
7 |
1 |
| Siva Arunachalam |
dnb |
|
- |
|
|
| Murali Obili |
dnb |
|
- |
|
|
| Gleb Bihanovs |
dnb |
|
- |
|
|
| Vineeth Govind |
dnb |
|
- |
|
|
| Andrus Kambre |
dnb |
|
- |
|
|
| extras |
|
(b6 lb2 w8 nb5) |
21 |
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
5 wickets for |
165 |
|
|
| Bowler |
O |
M |
R |
W |
wd |
nb |
| Ashwani |
4 |
0 |
21 |
2 |
- |
- |
| Saqib |
4 |
0 |
29 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Yogesh |
3 |
0 |
32 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Minish |
2 |
0 |
18 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Sumit |
4 |
0 |
26 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Manoj |
2 |
0 |
22 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Farqhat |
1 |
0 |
9 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Russia 1st XI 1st Innings 10/134 Closed (Overs 20) |
| Batsman |
Fieldsman |
Bowler |
Runs |
4s |
6s |
| Yogesh |
run out Gleb Bihanovs |
|
21 |
3 |
1 |
| Ashwani |
c Gleb Bihanovs |
b Vineeth Govind |
22 |
1 |
2 |
| Jigar |
c Oliver Slovodetsk |
b Siva Arunachalam |
29 |
2 |
1 |
| Sumit |
st Oliver Slovodetsk |
b Tim Filer |
28 |
3 |
0 |
| Manoj |
run out Tim Heath/Tim Fi. |
|
3 |
0 |
0 |
| Farqhat |
c Jason Barry |
b Tim Filer |
11 |
0 |
1 |
| Chandre |
run out N Lal |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Minish |
|
b Tim Filer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Saqib |
|
b N Lal |
7 |
0 |
0 |
| Janver |
|
b Tim Filer |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Akhter |
not out |
|
2 |
0 |
0 |
| extras |
|
(b0 lb1 w8 nb1) |
10 |
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
10 wickets for |
134 |
|
|
| Bowler |
O |
M |
R |
W |
wd |
nb |
| Murali Obili |
4 |
1 |
27 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Vineeth Govind |
4 |
1 |
24 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Siva Arunachalam |
3 |
0 |
19 |
1 |
- |
- |
| A Puri |
2 |
0 |
19 |
0 |
- |
- |
| N Lal |
4 |
0 |
31 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Tim Filer |
3 |
0 |
13 |
4 |
- |
- |
|