LEFT: Jamaican fans in their colours for the Guyana semi-finals.
RIGHT: Trinidad and Tobago celebrate their championship victory with Sir Allen Stanford (right).

Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

THE SECOND Stanford 20/20 tournament, known for its slogan, 'When Night Falls, Cricket Rises', opened on January 26 and closed on Sunday in Coolidge, Antigua, in a blaze of colour and a thunderous boom of fireworks which lit up the skyline.

From when Antigua's own hero, Sir Vivian Richards, declared the 2008 tournament officially open on January 25 - the night which saw 6,500 noisy spectators pack into the Stanford Cricket Ground for Cayman Islands against St Lucia - right through to the final which saw Trinidad and Tobago disgrace Jamaica in the final on Sunday in front of 8,000 fans, the tournament attracted an average of 5,000 spectators nightly.

On match nights, spectators not only turned out in their numbers, but in their colours to support their respective teams. Even tourists from as far as Asia, Africa and Europe attached themselves to teams.

Throughout the tournament, Sir Allen Stanford, creator and financier of the Stanford 20/20 event, walked around and greeted hundreds of fans.

Jamaica's own Beenie Man, Rupee of Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago's Machel Montano, Barbadian Alison Hinds and Antiguan entertainer Claudette 'CP' Peters were some of the big names who entertained during the half-time breaks, along with two steel bands and a sound system.

One billion viewers

The 2008 tournament, which was covered by journalists from across the world - notably Australia, England and the United States - was also broadcast live to one billion viewers in Asia, Africa, Europe, America, Canada and the Caribbean.

On the field, apart from United States Virgin Islands' surprise victory over St Kitts, there weren't any other major upsets.

Former Windward Islands batsman John Eugene scored a historic century for St Maarten, but that was not enough to stop St Vincent and the Grenadines. He scored an even hundred off 46 balls, hitting seven fours and six sixes.

Trinidad spinner Dave Mohammed was in record-breaking form and ended with tournament record match figures of 5-8, beating the previous best of 5-10 by Jamaican Jerome Taylor.

Guyanese Lennox Cush was also created history, taking a hat-trick against Jamaica in the semi-final match. He finished with 3-8 off four overs.

On the down side, Bermuda were restricted to 62 for nine, beating the previous tournament low score of 67 for nine made by debutants Turks and Caicos against Montserrat.

In the end, Trinidad and Tobago took home the winners' prize of US$1 million, while runners-up Jamaica pocketed US$500,000.