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The Visual i's Twenty20 Challenge Trophy
The Visual i's Twenty20 Challenge Trophy
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24th July 2008 saw the inaugural Visual i's Twenty20 Challenge Trophy between Hartley Wintney CC and the Visual i's Barbarians CC, captained by MD Richard Worrall.
The concept was initially thought up by Hartley cricketer Neil Salter, as a way of “giving something back” to Visual i's, who are proud to sponsor this historic club which Richard Worrall was once chairman of. After much discussion, a date and format were agreed, and the event began to take shape. Initially, the intentions were to get a good crowd watching & spending money in the pavilion bar, whilst two teams had some good fun in providing an entertaining spectacle.
However, after a brief meeting between club and sponsor, it was agreed that we should use the game as an opportunity to do something good and raise some money for a worthwhile cause, and so TWO charities were chosen. Breast Cancer Care (www.breastcancercare.org.uk) and HWCC choosing Sir Ian Botham’s latest walk in aid of Leukaemia Research (www.bothamwalk.com).
As a result, Visual i's bought PINK cricket balls for the game to be played with, and wore PINK ribbons on their shirts. Both sides wore coloured shirts, and there were black pads and black sight screens for the first time in 238 years of cricket at HWCC. Following a collection during the first innings, a donation from Visual i's and the auctioning of one of the pink cricket balls, £ 432 was raised for Breast Cancer Care.
The BBQ & Raffle, which consisted of prizes donated by the sponsor as well as many local residents and club members, saw over £ 300 raised for “Botham’s Walk”.
The event was exceptionally well attended, as the summer weather finally kicked in for the 6 pm start, with locals picnicking around the ground, and mingling with the many guests invited by Visual i's, one of whom had travelled from as far as Aberdeen for the evening!
The format of the game was 20 overs a side, with no bowler bowling more than 2 overs, batsman retiring once passing 25 runs (they could return later), and each side fielding at least 2 “Colts”.
The Visual i's Barbarians Squad included clients, colleagues, friends and past internationals, with Monty Lynch joining his son Louis, the current 2nd XI vice captain at the Hampshire club. HWCC fielded a strong XI, whilst the “Ba Ba’s” eighteen squad members all played some part in the game. Our 2 colts were Tommy and Danny Flanders (16 & 13 respectively), the latter having recently represented his age group for the West of England whilst his elder brother, a second XI regular, is just returning from injury.
Batting first, Hartley Wintney scored an impressive 232 in their 20 overs, with Richard Norris having to twice retire! Glen Williams, who plays for local rivals Hook & Newnham Basics, took 2 wickets for the Ba Ba’s with his last two deliveries, including Australian Adam Bull, the Hartley Wintney overseas player.
In reply, Visual i's Barbarians Roy Cockram and Scott Patterson (overseas player at Finchampstead CC), both retired after an excellent start, bringing a lovely moment where both Monty & Louis Lynch were at the crease together. Several players chipped in along the way as we fought to keep up with the run rate, and captain Richard Worrall (MD) juggled his pack to get in sight of the target. Then, returning from their retirements, Roy & Scott set about the bowling once again, and took the Visual i's Barbarians to victory with one ball to spare, the former smashing six sixes off the penultimate over!
Man of the Match, adjudicated by Steve Greaves the Chairman of Hartley Wintney Cricket Club, went to Richard Norris of HWCC, the only person to score runs, take wickets AND do wicket keeping duties!