We Only Lose by 2
Sun, May 18, '03
Wispy clouds on the outskirts of the boundary frame the powder blue sky where a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) helicopter hovers. A waft of cannabis blows from the Air Jamaica stand. On the other side of the ground, the George Headley stand is a sea of fanning fans, for it is hot?hot? hot. ?Old Mas Joe?, plastic cup in hand, declares ?Jamaica ah di headquarters o? di world. Jamaica ah di bes? place in di world. W-O-R-L-D?. Welcome to Sabina Park, home of international cricket in the capital of the Caribbean, Kingston.
After an unexpected win in the 4th test in Antigua, the capacity-sized crowd is in a jubilant mood. The whistles from the covered bleachers section to the east, provide ample background noise to accompany Merv Dillon?s run up to start the 1st One Day International between the rejuvenated West Indies team and the world champion Australians. ?Trini to di bone? blares from the speakers over at the Red Stripe Mound, where cricket is the last thing on patrons? mind. More important is soaking up the sun, while downing a beer. In Jamaica, a beer is a Red Stripe. And if you don?t believe that, you should check out the Top Ten Reasons to drink Red Stripe. Number 4 says ?work hard, thirst hard, drink Red Stripe?.
Who are some of the working people at Sabina today? The vendors, the scorers, the techies, the camera men, and of course the policemen and soldiers. Curious as to whether they are cricket fans, I direct this question to some of the security personnel. One is not, and another is a lover of all sports. ?So you don?t mind working today then?? No man. Not so for the JDF soldier who although he plays for the high flying JDF team in the new cricket super league, would rather be relaxing this weekend. You crazy?
Australia plunders the weak West Indian bowling attack, reaching 270 much to the delight of the Aussie supporters travelling through the Caribbean for the series. Now when you think of Australia, the cities of Sydney and Melbourne spring to mind. But one of the Aussie supporters in the George Headley Stand is quick to point out that she is from Cootamundra. ?Never heard of it? I say. Ah, but that?s where Don Bradman was from. Gotcha.
Others in the 50-strong group come from Alice Springs, Wagga Wagga and Armidale. They are having a whale of a time, having started their tour in Antigua where they were delighted with the colours, the people, the music and the atmosphere. Nothing like what happens at cricket in Australia. ?But how do you handle the heat?? is my next question. A balmy breeze in Antigua took care of that, one responds. Not so in the George Headley Stand where the heat, they admit, is stifling. The vendors selling bottled water are heavily patronized by the group.
And what about our food? Too spicy? Not really. The Jerk Chicken and Curried Goat stand out in their minds. I tell them to make sure and have Ackee and Saltfish, an item likely to be on the breakfast buffet at their hotel on Sunday morning. They are having a light lunch today, making sure to save space for the scrumptious dinner they are due to have in the hills at the foot of the Blue Mountains tonight.
Back on the cricket pitch, West Indies has started their reply and Chris Gayle is hammering Brett Lee all over the ground in the 12th over. The crowd loves it and start to chant ?we want Brett Lee, we want Brett Lee?. 14th over - 14.1 Lee to Gayle, OUT: first strike! The crowd goes silent, but after Ricardo Powell is dismissed off the next ball, the noise is deafening for the skipper. Rousing applause accompanies Lara out to the middle.
Memories of the rained-out matches against India last year resurface when the match is suspended in the 23rd over due to persistent rain. The TWI crew makes a mad dash to remove the stump cameras. Caribbean people are thought to be made out of sugar for the way they scramble for shelter at the slightest drop of rain. True to expectations, the fans in the bleachers put up brollies. Those without head to covered areas. Not so in the Mound. Rain is a licence for them to push the Party-o-meter up a notch. Just to make sure they don?t get carried away, a baker?s dozen of police officers position themselves on the outfield by the Mound.
Those dreaded gentlemen, Messrs Duckworth and Lewis, are called up for service. The target is revised. West Indies now need 208 off 37 overs. That puts the run rate required close to 7 runs per over. With wickets in hand, this is not an ungettable total but we know how we are when we have a break. Today is no different. The only good thing the rain does is to cool down the ground...it does nothing to help the West Indies? cause.
The skipper gets himself out just when he had started to find his rhythm. Thunderous applause greets the Vice-Captain, and then local boy Samuels after Devon Smith departs. While Ramnaresh Sarwan hangs around, Marlon Samuels fails to deliver?yet again. The crowd is incensed. The beginning of the end. We start the countdown. 65 runs from 41 deliveries.
Man in the press box says ?we need 2 fours?. I pipe up ?and a six?. Omari was obviously listening and obliges. 30.4 Harvey to Banks, SIX, maximum! 55 from 35. 41 from 24. Carlton Baugh?s middle stump goes flying courtesy of Man in the News McGrath. One of the 4th test heroes, Vasbert Drakes, walks to the middle to the strains of Wayne Marshall?s Overcome. Drakes can?t overcome and goes rather quickly, sent back by Andrew Symonds.
21 from 11. By now, the crowd starts their exodus. Oh ye of little faith. 7 off 1. Oh ye smart people. The crowd begs the bowler for a no-ball or a wide. He was obviously not listening. The die is cast. We probably won?t get any more runs off Lee. We will lose by 7 runs. But wait. Dillon is on strike. FOUR ! We only lose by 2. Please Mr Shepherd, can we have another ball?
Sure you can. Tomorrow.
