Last weekend Cricket Belgium enjoyed high-class international cricket from across the board hosted at Royal Brussels Cricket Club in Lasne.
Cricket Belgium hosted Guernsey at Royal Brussels Cricket Club on Saturday-Sunday (8-9th) June in an ICC Bi-lateral T20 International. The Guernsey side is ranked several places higher than Belgium in World Rankings and arrived with a professional set-up including 2 coaches.Â
At the request of FWBC (Federation Wallonie-Bruxelles de Cricket), they agreed to come to RBCC on Friday evening before the tournament to conduct a cricket training for Belgian juniors. The event was open to juniors across the region and a lot of new faces turned up to try out the sport. FWBC has recently received its first funding from ADEPS and chose this occasion to sponsor the evening which ended in a BBQ with Guernsey mixing with the parents and kids, while the RBCC volunteers worked tirelessly to get the ground ready for the tournament.
On Saturday the cricket tournament commenced in sunshine and Belgium were put into bat. RBCCs own Muneeb opened the batting to face the new ball for Cricket Belgium, but both openers did not stay long. The middle order put up a fight and we got to a reasonably respectable 154 after 20 overs – or so we thought. The young, fit Guernsey lads made light work of our bowlers and reached the total in just 18 overs. The Guernsey CEO was now looking for a clean sweep.
Either one-all at the turn.
Cricket Belgium won the toss and elected to bowl. The afternoon did not start well for Cricket Belgium who were taking wickets but the runs kept coming for Guernsey who ended on a mighty 197 for 9 after 20 overs. Too much for some, but not enough to daunt the Belgian team. Out came RBCC’s own Muneeb and, together with Hakim, had put on 52 after just 4 overs when they fell. After 8 we were 93, well ahead of the run rate. In came Burhan and Sherry Butt and both put on 40 each. In the end, there was controversy, when Belgium needed only 3 from the last over. The batsman hit the ball clear of the ropes at Cow Corner, and one of the Guernsey fans caught the ball over the boundary as the player collided into him. The Guernsey players surrounded the umpires claiming it should be pronounced a dead ball, but the umpires held firm, a 6 was awarded and Cricket Belgium won the game.
On Sunday morning we returned in high spirits when Guernsey came out to bat buoyed by the morning’s success and proceeded to dispatch the ball to all areas of the ground, this time ending on 192 for 6 with one lad making an impressive 73. Knees were trembling amongst some supporters but not with the Belgian team as they came out confidently to chase it down. And so they did – in the 19th over for only 5 wickets, led principally by Shery Butt who made 75 including a six over the trees on the far side of the ground.
Cricket Belgium were leading 2-1 into the final game, much to many’s surprise. In the final game, we ran out of steam and posted a meagre 125 which Guernsey chased down quite easily to halve the series. How great to have the pleasure of exciting cricket in Belgium on a sunny weekend. Thanks to all the parents, kids, volunteers and officials who together made it a great weekend.
Match Scorecard 1st T20i
Match Scorecard 2nd T20i
Match Scorecard 3rd T20i
Match Scorecard 4th T20iÂ