Viv with the bell, Nasser in the slips and the Badree-Russell show

The rain stayed away, Evin Lewis led a wonderful batting performance from the Windies to total 199/4, and Samuel Badree put in a star turn with the ball to make sure ICC World XI were bowled out for 127 in 16.4 overs. The game was bigger than just the numbers, of course, as it was put in place to raise funds for five hurricane-hit cricket venues across the Caribbean, and that objective was achieved too.

That aside, here are some things from the game that will stay with us.

The King of the bell-ringThere haven’t been too many better cricketers than King Viv, and it was apt that Sir Vivian Richards was given the honour of ringing the five-minute bell at Lord’s before the start of the game. The Marylebone Cricket Club Honorary Life Member looked dapper, and received a warm round of applause when his name was announced and as he clanged the bell. One of the five stadia in the Caribbean that were damaged by the hurricanes last year, and which will be helped by the funds from the Lord’s game, is the stadium named after him in North Sound, Antigua, so his involvement in the game was fitting.

A grand farewell for AfridiHe hasn’t played for Pakistan since March 2016 and didn't get a farewell match. But Shahid Afridi received the accolade he so deserved at Lord’s on Thursday, first by being named captain of the ICC World XI side once Eoin Morgan dropped out because of a broken finger, and then getting a guard of honour from his teammates as they walked out to field.

Afridi wasn’t fully fit, because of a knee injury, and it showed at times. He still bowled his four overs, for 1/34 – taking his world-record tally of T20I wickets to 98. Then he came out to bat with Sam Billings as his runner and scored a 12-ball 11. He wasn’t quite done. In keeping with the mood of the evening, Afridi also announced a donation to the relief fund from his foundation. Well played, sir!

Hussain in the slipsIt’s not something viewers are used to, and not everyone was pleased with it going by reactions on Twitter, but it was fun – Nasser Hussain playing the roving commentator, standing just behind the slip cordon with GoPro fitted to his cap, calling the game from about as close as possible.

Mills keeps Gayle quietIt’s not everyone that bowls a maiden over to Chris Gayle, especially in T20 cricket, but Tymal Mills achieved the feat in the second over of the Windies innings. Hussain had a bird’s eye view of the goings-on as Mills beat Gayle with a mixed bag of slower ones and cutters at pace. Gayle did get his bat on a couple of them, but only to the fielders.

World XI’s leg theoryOne of the things to look forward to in the game was Rashid Khan, Sandeep Lamichhane, Adil Rashid and Shahid Afridi – four very different but classy leg-spinners – bowling in tandem. Didn’t quite happen, as the Englishman didn’t play, but there was a phase when Afridi and Lamichhane bowled together, and Afridi and Khan had a go together as well.

Unfortunately, especially for Lamichhane, it wasn’t a good day at work. Afridi’s one wicket cost 34 runs, Khan had two for 48 runs, while the young man from Nepal was given just the one over, which went for 12 runs.

The Badree-Russell show“They are champions, and they played like champions,” Afridi said afterwards of the Windies, and no one did the champion bit better than Samuel Badree, with Andre Russell giving him excellent support.

Russell, importantly, hadn’t played for the Windies since August 2016, but was in action in the Indian Premier League 2018 for Kolkata Knight Riders and in good form. He showed that – first slamming a 10-ball 21* with three sixes to hitch the Windies total to 199/4 and then doing exceedingly well with the new ball.

Badree opened the bowling for the Windies and gave away just three runs, and Russell struck next over, Evin Lewis taking a screamer at cover to send back Tamim Iqbal. Badree’s next over was a beauty, a double-wicket maiden, Luke Ronchi and Dinesh Karthik sent back for ducks. Russell then came back to account for Billings and ICC World XI were 8/4 in 3.3 overs.

Badree finished with the magical figures of 3-1-4-2, while Russell gave away runs later in the script to end with 3-0-2-25.