Northern win the final of the French National Club Championships (19 Nov 1999)

19 November 1999

Northern win the final of the French National Club Championships

Northern took out an all-Parisian final of the French National Club Championships sneaking home by one wicket against Paris Universite Club (PUC) last month.

The final, at the Bois de Vincenennes on the outskirts of Paris on October 17, saw defending champion, Paris Universite Club (PUC) lose wickets regularly en route to 194 all out, with French reserve wicket-keeper Shabir contributing 52.

Northern too lost wickets regularly in reply but, helped by some sluggish Parisian fielding, squeaked home by one wicket in the 37th over of a 45 over match. French internationals Peter Alexander (Northern), with some wristy stroke-play and brisk medium-pace bowling, and mesmeric off-spinner Guy Brumant (PUC), who flew back from Guadeloupe for the game, were the best players during the Final.

In the semi-finals, Northern, a Sri Lankan-based side, travelled 1000km down to Grasse to play Cabris, knocking off 218 to win by four wickets with two overs to spare.

Cabris was a fine host in every sense, dropping nine catches as Northern overtook the Cabris score of 216-6 off its allotted 40 overs.

The home team started brilliantly, scoring its first 100 without loss in 18 overs. When national player, Phil Martin, was finally caught, Cabris had struck 121-1 in 20 overs and the Goats appeared headed for a winning score.

Northern's Peter Linton, who had struggled with his line in his first spell, recovered to concede just four runs off four overs in his second, as Cabris could make 'only' 95 runs in its second 20 overs.

Northern proceeded to 104-2 before suffering a mini-collapse as Williams snared three wickets in 10 balls to falter to 137-5.

The visitors, however eventually won, taking victory with a flourish by hitting three fours to win the game.

Northern's enthusiasm was summed up by the fact the players drove through the night to reach Grasse, while another flew down after finishing work at 2am.

In the other semi-final, PUC rattled up 219-7 in their 35 overs and dismissed Dreux for 149 in 31.1 overs.

The French Championship had started out with the following teams qualifying from their respective regions:

ILE DE FRANCE: Paris Université, Standard, Northern, Gymkhana NORTH-EAST: Chauny CENTRE-WEST: Dreux SOUTH-WEST: Eymet MIDI: Cabris

Eymet had qualified as the South-Western champion with three victories and one winning draw. St.Aulave was second, Bordeaux third, Damacan fourth and Perigueux fifth.

In the quarter-finals, played on the weekend of October 2-3: Dreux beat Standard on walk-over; similarly Northern beat Eymet who couldn't raise the numbers; Cabris (120-6) beat Gymkhana (119) and PUC (164-3) beat Chauny (162-6)

The Cabris-Gymkhana match, at the Bois de Vincennes was played in continuous rain.

Gymkhana won the toss, feeling obliged to put itself in as only seven or eight players were present at the start of play.

The rain saw the match reduced initially to 35 overs a side.

Gymkhana initially lost 3-15 until dropped catches from Cabris allowed the Parisians to reach 4-82 in the 21st over. They reached 6-119 before rain increased in intensity, necessitating a two hour delay.

The conditions became quite ugly however the home players made it clear they wanted a result and the Gymkhana innings was declared closed.

Cabris was given 26.3 overs, the same as Gymkhana, to score 120.

This Cabris did, passing 50 in only the ninth over, meritorious given that running between wickets was made precarious and hitting fours along the ground impossible.

Chauny, the only side to contain a majority of French-born players (8), pushed PUC at the quarter-final stage thanks to a fine innings of 101 from former Aussie Grade player Brett Meredith, and three wickets from 14-year-old legspinner Julian Guenne; Mathieu Royant was brilliant as usual behind the stumps.

Next year France Cricket's plan to introduce a quota of French nationals for league games, gradually increasing until they form a majority by 2005.