Saturday dawned cloudy and grey over the damp, emerald-green field at the Bongerd. A crowd of cricket enthusiasts gathered to kick off the third season of the Wageningen Premier League (WPL). As I wove through groups of chattering supporters to the makeshift commentator’s box, excited snippets of conversation brushed past me. I counted at least three Indian languages – different communities brought together by a common love for cricket. Organised by the Indian Students’ Association (ISA), three teams played for the cup this year – the Haarweg Highflyers, Bornsesteeg Barbarians and Lombardi Lords.
The looming threat of rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of players and spectators alike. Hanikeshava, who was acting as scorekeeper, summed it up accurately. ‘Energy is high, people are very enthusiastic, that’s the josh!’ Applause and cheers break out as the Bornsesteeg Barbarians win the coin flip and choose to bowl for the first match. A shrewd decision as the wet pitch makes the ball unpredictable and difficult to bat. The soggy outfield would also slow the ball down, making boundaries hard to come by.
On Sunday, the Sun god finally smiled down on the tournament, matching the mood on the field
Three years ago, the WPL was conceptualised to reconnect the South Asian community with a much beloved aspect of daily life – cricket! And to share this zeal with other nationalities. The WPL conforms to the format of the Indian Premier League (IPL) including the pre-season auction where team managers bid for players. However, rather than the 20-20 overs each innings of the IPL, here, it’s 8-8, and for the final match, 10-10 overs in each innings.
It is also mandatory for each team to have a female player. ‘The female player’s bowling overs are usually gamechangers’, proclaimed Mansi of the Lombardi Lords. She was soon proven right as Sinchana Upadhyaya of the Bornsesteeg Barbarians took three wickets in her first game. With three matches scheduled on Saturday and four on Sunday, things progressed at a brisk pace. Players clad in blue and red jerseys energetically negotiated the field, constantly giving their supporters something to cheer for. Between sporadic bursts of whoops and whistles, I catch a quiet moment with Prasith Prakash, board member of ISA. ‘This is a much-anticipated annual event, for the board and community alike.’
On Sunday, the Sun god finally smiled down on the tournament, matching the mood on the field. The concluding game began late in the afternoon, Deepak and Aagam, captains of the Bornsesteeg Barbarians and the Lombardi Lords respectively, gathered their players for a sportsmanlike showdown. The Barbarians set a commendable target of 96 runs for the Lords to chase. A nail-biting innings later, the Barbarians emerged victorious. It was a close match with the Lords just shy of 12 runs.
Abhishek and Vrinda, the managers of the winning team looked on proudly as they accepted the cup. ‘We had great players who performed as they needed to, to win. It’s a great feeling when all the hard work pays off!’ The tournament ended in a heartwarming ceremony with the players, managers and spectators coming to celebrate a day of good sportsmanship and cricket.
Ananya Doraswamy is a Master’s student Communication, Health and Life Sciences from India. She delights in a slow-paced day that has plenty of time for cloud watching and tree-gazing. She enjoys being in busy, multicultural kitchens that have plenty of food and stories to offer.
