CLUB NEWS

On Sunday 4 May, Lille Cricket Club played their very first overseas game against Whitstable CC. The players had made their way over (or under) on the Shuttle that morning and arrived at midday at the ground where an under 10 cricket match was underway. Whitstable CC very generously treated the team to lunch, a Ploughman’s lunch, and Lille CC’s first major difficulty of the day arose: how do you translate Branstone Pickle? (We’re still looking for a answer…).

Lunch and the junior match over, Lille CC were kitted out in their new gear, and a local journalist immortalised the moment. Dave Szumowski, Lille’s captain for the day, won the toss and decided to bat.

The first over of Lille’s innings saw the club off to a flying start and 21 runs were scored (‘though most of them were extras). The quick loss of the 1st wicket and some tighter bowling from Whitstable (Steve Holness: 3 - 12) put a brake on proceedings and from then on the run rate advanced at a much more sedate pace. Some solid contributions from Richard Wentworth, Dave Szumowski and Gareth Wilson helped Lille to their most competitive score of the season: 124-9. Lille’s innings was all the more impressive as this was the first time they had batted out their 40 overs and had not been bowled out.

Going in for a typically English tea (cucumber sandwiches, cakes and tea), the team felt that the score was defendable and that the second half of the game should be just as exciting.

This is where the team’s inexperience betrayed them as Whitstable’s openers took a liking to most if not all of the bowlers. The 100 was up in next to no time, with boundaries all around the ground (and especially behind the wicket!) with hardly any overs gone. Whitstable then decided to play it safe and the remaining runs needed for victory took almost longer than the previous 120. Generous umpiring also kept the game alive for that bit longer as some wides went unseen, allowing another Whitstable batsmen, Dean Lewis, to reach his 50. This change in tempo allowed Adam Wentworth to bowl 2 wicket maidens and Gareth Wilson to practice his catching!
The entire match was played in good spirit and enjoyed by all even if that Lille victory remains all too elusive.

The match was all the more enjoyable as this was the 1st time for a lot of the club members that they had played on a grass wicket. The team was very impressed by Whitstable’s facilities (nets, bowling machine, pavilion, changing rooms, showers and bar) and the number of young cricketers keen to practice and play.

We look forward to hosting Whitstable in the future and if our cricket is not yet up to their high standards our hospitality most certainly will be.