Rotterdam Dockers won the Dutch derby in Voorburg, beating Amsterdam Flames by five wickets with 11 balls to spare as the European T20 PremIer League finally got under way. 

Eight seasons in the making, it was a player who made his international debut just two months ago, to the day, that had the honour of bowling the first ball. 

Jai Moondra is the only Ireland player in the Dockers squad but after his heroics against India he was given the new ball against Max O’Dowd and Yuvraj Samra. Eleven came off the over and nine off the second, including a six by Baz de Leede who went on to dominate the innings with 75 from 53 balls with seven fours and two sixes. 

Two Ireland players had been picked up by the Flames and although Jordan Neill missed out on the opening game, Curtis Campher came in at number four and scored 17 in a third wicket stand of 36 with de Leede. He hit only one boundary, a six off Namibian David Wiese, in his 20-ball innings before he was caught at extra cover by 42-year-old Faf du Plessis, off the bowling of Roelof van der Merwe, just five months his junior. 

The Flames failed to accelerate significantly and finished on 157 for eight with Moondra conceding 10 from the 18th over on his return. 

Campher was given two overs with the ball but he was no more successful, conceding 27 runs as du Plessis, showing all his experience in franchise cricket, controlled the chase with a classy 83 from 55 balls.

A winning start then by the Dockers, coached by former Ireland favourite Adi Birrell.

There are two more derbies as the tournament continues on Thursday, with the Dublin Guardians facing Belfast Wolves in the morning match, while in the afternoon Glasgow Cosmic take on Edinburgh Castle Rockers.