Optimists Cricket Club

OCC triumphed in the annual weekend's fixtures against old friends Strasbourg Strollers at the Pierre Werner Cricket Ground this weekend. Back-to-back wins meant that the historic black and white trophy will stay in the Grand Duchy for another year.

The Optimists batted first in both games and posted a hefty score of 288-9 in 40 overs on Saturday, thanks to a century from opener Salai Sekaran Pooranam (117). Strasbourg were bowled out for 98. In Sunday's 30-over game, the Luxembourgers were in early trouble at 41-5 but Tim Barker (77*) and Saransh Kulshrestha (39) combined aggressively to register a total of 217-7. While Strasbourg's classy Afraz (62) remained at the wicket, an exciting conclusion looked likely, but he fell to a sharp stumping by Saransh and the visitors fell short on 155 all out..