ChantillyExpat.com

As regular readers will know, Chantilly cricket club is well known for its black eyes. You will not be disappointed to hear that we had another one in this match. Lee Pretsell, fielding off his own bowling, had the ball flick up sharply.
Some say that his spectacles were knocked into his face; others say that he simply made a spectacle of himself. Sympathy was given, but only up to a point. We couldn't lose another bowler, so he accelerated through his overs in order to get them in before his eye closed up - the stuff of legend.

Second change bowlers were brought in, but not even the unconventional and random (Jack Godfrey and Rob Oakley) could rock Thoiry's progression towards a score of 315 - the highest ever inflicted over CCC.

Congratulations to Nick Shepherd and Denzil Homer for picking up 2 wickets a-piece, and for the fielders for sticking to the task, on a very hot afternoon.

For those fielders that would have otherwise followed the football, there was at least the benefit of knowing that they didn't have to suffer watching England lose to Germany 4-1.

Pretsell and Homer opened CCC's account, with Homer getting out early, caught off a sweetly timed pull to leg. Pretsell hung around (the hotter, the better it seems) getting to 39.

Jones, in at no. 3, chipped in (well, pulled really) with a useful 26 getting caught by Gribbell. Gribbell then came on to bowl, which surprised Shepherd and Oakley seniors, with 1 or 2 whizzing round their ears. Oakley was dispatched with a quick one whilst he was still adjusting his trousers.

The afternoon's moment of controversy came when Shepherd got bowled round his legs, but the wicket was swiftly converted into a no-ball due to the bowler's "interesting" action. Geoffrey agreed that the 15 degree limit had been exceeded by a significant margin and Nick was called back. His score of 43 - including a first six for the club (when he believed that these things were now out of reach) - was the high point of the innings.

The tail didn't wag and Chantilly were all out for a respectable (but distant) 144. One-all against Thoiry this year.

A pleasant beer was available to rehydrate the weary before heading back...

It's always useful to follow someone when leaving Thoiry CC in the evening. Nick Shepherd left first, but was spotted 10 minutes later still circulating. And 1 week later I still haven't heard from Tris who was last seen heading towards the lions enclosure.
If someone has heard anything, please let us know. We probably should have already informed Marianne. Thanks.