Semi final day followed a much-needed day of rest for the Estonian team. During the brief respite players ventured to all aprts of Wales to recharge their batteries ahead of the game against an as yet unknown Croatian team.
Estonia won the toss, yet again, and opted to bat first. The Croatian attack soon took their first scalp with the early wicket of Tim Filer. Ollie Slovodetski however was built of sterner stuff and accumulated a top score of 29.
Anil Puri and ‘Silver Fox’ Barry added 49 runs between them and with the initial impetus by the Croatians quelled, runs steadily flowed from the bat whilst wickets tumbled slowly for the Croatians.
With the Estonian team batting bolstered by the inclusion of four recognized all rounders, Estonia ended on a total of 128 for 6, with a valiant rear-guard action by Andrus Kambre, whose resolute innings helped to hold one end whilst Siva pronounced war against the Croatian bowlers at the other.
With Estonia posting their second highest total of the tournament, the Baltic team were confident in defending their total. However a spirited display by the opening partnership, especially Ford and Marovic, proved to be a wake up call for the Estonian bowlers. With balls smashed forcefully to every corner of the field, the Estonian side were beginning to wonder whether the best they could hope for would be a 3rd place. However up stepped Siva with a devastating spell of pace bowling, ending with figures of 5 for 7 in four overs.
The game ended in victory for Estonia but the Croatian team pushed to the very last earning the respect of both players and onlooking spectators.
The reporter would also like to note the efforts made by Nand Lal, returning after his brief stay in Cwym Blodwyn General Hospital. Diagnosis: stress attack during poker. Prognosis: Good as long as put on a strict diet of ‘snap’ and ‘patience’.
Man of the Match - Siva Arunachalam
Match report written by Jason Barry
| Estonian 1st XI Vs Croatia 1st XI |
| 1-Innings Match Played At Eurotwenty20, 18-Jul-2008, 2008 Internationals |
| Estonian 1st XI Win by 62 runs |
| Toss won by |
Estonian 1st XI |
| Player / Match |
ECA:Arunachalam, Siva |
| Estonian 1st XI 1st Innings 6/128 Closed (Overs 20) |
| Batsman |
Fieldsman |
Bowler |
Runs |
4s |
6s |
| Tim Filer |
|
b Vivek |
2 |
0 |
0 |
| Oliver Slovodetsky+ |
|
b Kumar |
29 |
1 |
0 |
| Tim Heath* |
c Cambasha |
b Ford |
6 |
0 |
0 |
| Jason Barry |
lbw |
b Sinovich |
20 |
2 |
0 |
| Anil Puri |
not out |
|
27 |
2 |
0 |
| Murali Obili |
|
b Sinovich |
4 |
0 |
0 |
| Nand Lal |
c Marovic |
b Kumar |
14 |
1 |
0 |
| Siva Arunachalam |
not out |
|
18 |
0 |
1 |
| Gleb Bihanovs |
dnb |
|
- |
|
|
| Vineeth Govind |
dnb |
|
- |
|
|
| Andrus Kambre |
dnb |
|
- |
|
|
| extras |
|
(b0 lb1 w3 nb4) |
8 |
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
6 wickets for |
128 |
|
|
| Bowler |
O |
M |
R |
W |
wd |
nb |
| Vivek |
4 |
0 |
19 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Jukic |
4 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Ford |
4 |
0 |
20 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Kumar |
4 |
0 |
27 |
2 |
- |
- |
| Sinovich |
4 |
0 |
38 |
2 |
- |
- |
| Croatia 1st XI 1st Innings 10/66 All Out (Overs 15) |
| Batsman |
Fieldsman |
Bowler |
Runs |
4s |
6s |
| Marovic |
|
b Tim Heath |
16 |
0 |
0 |
| Kumar |
lbw |
b Tim Heath |
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Ford |
st Oliver Slovodetsk |
b Jason Barry |
19 |
0 |
0 |
| Cambasha |
|
b Siva Arunachalam |
10 |
0 |
0 |
| Sinovich |
c Oliver Slovodetsk |
b Siva Arunachalam |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Jukic |
c Murali Obili |
b Siva Arunachalam |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Ivkovic |
|
c&b Siva Arunachalam |
5 |
0 |
0 |
| Vivek |
run out Murali Obili |
|
1 |
0 |
0 |
| Marinkovic |
run out Oliver Slovodets. |
|
4 |
0 |
0 |
| Libanovic |
not out |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Pilich |
|
b Siva Arunachalam |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| extras |
|
(b0 lb2 w8 nb0) |
10 |
|
|
| TOTAL |
|
10 wickets for |
66 |
|
|
| Bowler |
O |
M |
R |
W |
wd |
nb |
| Murali Obili |
4 |
0 |
23 |
0 |
- |
- |
| Tim Heath |
4 |
1 |
13 |
2 |
- |
- |
| Siva Arunachalam |
4 |
1 |
7 |
5 |
- |
- |
| Jason Barry |
2 |
0 |
17 |
1 |
- |
- |
| Nand Lal |
1 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
