Optimists Cricket Club

On Saturday 6th June we were pleased to renew our acquaintance with BSB, welcoming their Under 11 and Under 13 teams to Walferdange. Despite the extremely wet and miserable weather umpires and players all agreed we should play anyway!

This was the first appearance for Luxembourg at U11 level and for several players it was their first representative match. The format consisted of pairs, each batting for four overs, scoring runs normally but losing five runs each time a batsman was out. Our opening pair of Thomas Martin and Jack Stock accumulated an accomplished 25, a result of good understanding and teamwork. The remaining four pairs showed their inexperience, this unfortunately contributing to several costly run-outs. Consequently the final net score at the end of our 20 overs was a modest 42. The BSB batsmen, having already played several matches, were more consistent and avoided some of our mistakes. Although they passed our total well before the end of their overs they continued batting to allow each pair a turn, reaching a final net score of 87.

As BSB came with only eight players for the U13 match we were again generous by offering them two of our “over-age” players to even up the sides. Batting first BSB scored at four runs per in the early part of their innings, as all of the Luxembourg bowlers had at least one over. Captain James Hunt hit four boundaries, before retiring on 25. He was assisted by “guest”, Christopher Evans, who contributed 17. The run rate improved in the second half of the innings to five per over although wickets fell more regularly in the chase for quick runs. James Hunt came back to reach 32 before being run out. Timothy Barker took three wickets, all bowled, for 15 runs and Puneet Vyas two for 15 as BSB’s final wicket fell in the last over with the score on 99. An additional highlight was the improved accuracy of the bowling, with only four wides during the entire innings.

In reply Luxembourg set off at a rush with Timothy Barker continuing his good form with the bat. Four fours and a six saw him “retired” on 26 in the fifth over. With his brother James also going well the score reached 67 in only the ninth over. However, following his departure for 17, the runs suddenly dried up and wickets started to fall regularly. Six overs produced only seven runs but three wickets. Finally, in the nineteenth over, a “wide” brought victory (and relief!) for the home side by 3 wickets.

Roger Barker