CLT20

Johan Botha congratulates Wayne Parnell

 The Champions League has begun and what a start!

This competition brings 10 of the finest T20 teams in the world together for a single two-week tournament. 4 from India, South Africa 2, Australia 2, England. 1, West Indies 1. (there were others from New Zealand and Sri Lanka but they failed to qualify.)

My provincial team, The Chevrolet Warriors, who I have supported all my life were charged with the opening fixture against the mighty millionaire IPL outfit The Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Our Cinderella province boasting such (un)household names as Jon Jon Smuts, Craig Thyssen, Justin Kreush and a few aging retired internationals (Prince, Boucher, Boje) provided the fans (and me, I couldn’t watch the last 3 balls) with a nailbiter.

Here’s a match report,  in summary RCB batted first and made a formidable 172, our guys, forever behind the run rate had explosive 4th, 3rd, and 2nd last overs to get the target down to 7 from six balls, here’s how it went..

dot, dot, wicket, 1 (now needing 6 from 2!) 4,2.

Unbelievable stuff.

At 10:30 gmt our other side The Cape Cobras take on the Aussie NSW Blues.

 

9 thoughts on “CLT20”

  1. Thanks for this, Soutie. What a finish!

    What with Michael Hussey and Doug Bollinger featuring in the Chennai Super Kings, and all the guys in the Reds and the Blues, I have no idea which team I should support.

    I wish this was available on Aussie free-to-air, but it isn’t. 😦
    It’s not quite the same following T20 in text on the web.

  2. Howzit Bearsy 🙂

    I was going to suggest that you find a local club or sportsbar that show the matches but I suppose that the times are unreasonable for you.

    I do it all the time for the big sports events, much better than sitting on my own!

    Have you seen the prize money?

    US$ 500,000 for participating (i.e just for qualifying)

    Plus

    US$ 200,000 if knocked out at the group stage
    US$ 500,000 losing semifinalists
    US$ 1,3 million losing finalist
    US$ 2.5 million winners.

    I’m not sure if the money goes to the squad or the club, with the players on big bonuses whichever it’s a lot of money for a cricket tournament.

    I see that true to form England have scheduled International matches during this period, (they played WI in a T20 last night) talk about being out of step!

  3. Sorry Soutie, while admitting that there are exciting close finishes in some of the matches, 20/20 just isn’t cricket for me. The razzmatazz and constant sixes wears thin after awhile. The measured pace of a test match is the ultimate sport; every session is unique.
    The only thing T20 did for me was make me appreciate ODI’s more. I now quite enjoy 50 over games.

    A nice post nonetheless.

  4. Soutie – I wasn’t even aware of the tournament until your post – shows what the pommie press thinks of it. Another game the poms invent then ruin, ignore or be crap at!

  5. Cuprum – The pommie press may be crap as ever, but England’s XI are akshully doing rather well at the moment.

    OZ

  8. OZ – aye, England are T20 world champions at the moment believe it or not, but the novelty is wearing off, the county scene is tiring of the format and downgrading it next season to fewer matches.

  9. In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t matter anyway, OZ.
    BTW, absolutely enjoying your asides on the “Breach of the Peace” blog. 🙂

    Cuprum, no wonder. Silly as it sounds, watching run-fests lacks drama. A bit like golf, you could say.

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