ChantillyExpat.com

The new season opened with the annual commemorative trophy match against Saint Brice. The murky April afternoon belied the enthusiastic spirits and sunny disposition of both sides as they took the field to honour the memory of Nilesh lost in a road accident in India 2 years ago.

Saint Brice batted first and seemed intent on retaining the trophy. Imran and Rakesh took full advantage of a weakened opening bowler line up. CCC player of the year in 2009, Matt Gillett, has taken the rash decision to follow his family and career back home to South Africa this summer and our other overseas star from last season, Craig Whittington, has not rejoined this year.

This meant extra pressure from the off for youngster Patrick Clarke and oldster Nick Shepherd. The batsmen soon had their eye in and raced to 36 before Rakesh edged to Homer in the 4th over. Dipesh came and went, snared by an uninjured Powell and snapped up by the alert Nick Sansbury for three singles. Jiten steadied the innings and was a perfect foil for Imran who struck a quartet of boundaries in his total of 32. Powell sealed his fate with a well flighted ball leading to an lbw. Jiten was next to go – cleaned bowled by Clarke senior as was Magur – Nick Clarke matched son Patrick in every way as they both finished with the respectable figures of 2 for 23.

The Saint Brice middle order was crumbling, but the tail rallied in spite of a tidy spell from Powell (2 for 26) and good efforts from newcomer Pretsell who looks to be a solid all-rounder. Bhupenda and Raju both got into their twenties before Nick Sansbury took his second catch of the innings and Patch skittled out Raju. By this time the score had moved at just over 7 an over to 134 for 8. Pashan finished with a flourish to reach 11 not out and Shepherd had Vinad caught by Powell off the penultimate ball of the 20 over innings. 145 for 9 was the target to beat.