Kendall Cup gets underway in Portugal (10 Jul 1999)

9 July 1999

Kendall Cup gets underway in Portugal

There is nothing bigger in Portuguese cricket than the Kendall Cup, the annual encounter between Lisbon and Oporto. The 1999 version starts today (July 9).

Peter Eckersley provides a history and preview of the prestigious event.

In mid-October 1861 an intrepid team of cricketers made their way south from the city of Oporto in northern Portugal to the nation's capital Lisbon. Some travelled by sea down the coastline whilst others made their way by horse-drawn carriage along the 320 Kilometres of dusty bumpy roads.

On arrival they congregated at the Lisbon Sports Club and there, on 17th & 18th October participated in an historic two-day cricket match with their Lisbon hosts. Now, 138 years later, this annual fixture still dominates the Portuguese cricketing calendar and on 9th & 10th July 1999 the two sides from Oporto & Lisbon will lock horns for the 114th occasion to contest the possession of the Kendall Cup.

Only on twenty five occasions in 138 years has the fixture failed to take place with wars, revolution, epidemics & floods being cited as sufficient reason to still the sound of leather on willow on Portuguese soil.

Incredibly, of the 109 games for which there exist records of results, the scales are evenly and finely balanced at exactly 50 victories apiece for both Oporto & Lisbon. There has been one tied match and only eight drawn games. The reason for this somewhat unusually low number of draws is because prior to 1975 (when the local rules were changed by mutual consent), the result was decided on first innings scores in the event of a match not being decisively completed over 4 innings.

The Kendall Cup was presented in 1920 by a Mr Clarence Kendall in memory of his cousin, Douglas Rawes, a celebrated local cricketer who lost his life in the horror of Ypres in 1916. It currently reposes in the hallowed corridors of the Oporto Cricket & Lawn Tennis Club in Campo Alegre, Oporto where it has been since 1995 when the home team pulled off their first win in many years. 1996,1997 & 1998 all produced rather disappointing draws and as the holders retain the trophy in the event of a draw, the Lisbon players are highly motivated to reclaim it this year.

Leading the Lisbon team is 24 year old Torben Rankine who is also the current Portuguese national team captain. Born in Lisbon and educated in the U.K. -where he captained the 1st XI at Edinburgh University, he is the son of one of the Portuguese games most famous names, Robin P. Rankine, himself captain of the Lisbon team in the 70's and a veteran of no fewer than 17 Kendall Cup matches. Torben is an elegant left-handed bat and is an able wicket-keeper. The Lisbon batting line up comprises several other experienced players. Australian born David Baverstock has the distinction of having scored centuries for both sides in Kendall Cup matches as he was the stalwart of the Oporto batting in the late 1980's and early 90's before moving to Lisbon in 1993. David is an aggressive right hand bat and also bowls a mean leg-break. The elder of the two South African born brothers who are both Portuguese nationals, Nelson Ferreira will be playing in his third Kendall Cup. A solid opening bat (RH) Nelson is often relied upon by his team to play the anchor role and is capable of building a big innings. His younger brother, Paulo Ferreira (23) is a more extrovert batsmen and is renowned for his quick-fire 50's in local league matches. His 93 off 80 balls in last year's Kendall Cup match was one of the highlights of an otherwise tedious draw. Paulo is part of the multi-pronged Lisbon bowling attack with his lively medium-fast proving very successful at all levels.

The other pair of Portuguese South African brothers who form an integral part of the Lisbon team are the irrepressible, Carlo & Paulo Buccimazza. Although still at school, Paulo will be playing in his 3rd Kendall Cup and is having an excellent season to date with the bat. He has already posted one century for his school (St Julians') and two half-centuries in the League. A more than useful leftarm swing bowler he has already notched-up one 5-for this season. His elder brother Carlo (19) is developing into a genuine quick bowler who regularly produces the totally unplayable delivery which all batsmen fear.

Opening bat John Keeble is in his first season of cricket in Portugal and thus far has an average of 46. An elegant righthander, John hails from the U.K. but is currently working in Portugal as a teacher.

Hussein Cheema is one who can rightfully claim to be a genuine all-rounder. Born in Pakistan, Cheema has been resident in Portugal for five years but this will be only his second Kendall Cup. A forceful right-handed batsman who can be relied upon to score quickly when required he is also a talented bowler who can work up genuine pace as an opener or bowl accurate and teasing spin. The bulk of the Lisbon spin bowling will, however, undoubtably be entrusted to the deft & capable hands of the ever-smiling Mohd. Kaleem. Another Pakistani who has been resident in Portugal for three years, Kaleem imparts prodigious spin and for the past two seasons has been the National League's leading wicket-taker.

To compliment the pace & seam bowling of Carlo Buccimazza & Paulo Ferreira, Lisbon can also call upon the services of two other bowlers of genuine all-round ability in the shapes of Tim Hartwell and Barber Khan. The ruggedly built Hartwell is a quick bowler with tremendous stamina and a very useful lower middle order batsman who hits the ball with great force. Khan is a newcomer to the local cricket scene but has impressed everybody with his accurate and lively medium pace which has proved difficult to score off. The depth of batting talent in his club side, Casuals, has made it impossible for him to make a meaningful contribution with the bat so far this season but the that we have had indicate an underlying sound technique.

At the time of writing, the Oporto team was not available.