Having won the toss and chosen to bat on a stifling hot day at Chantilly Cricket Club, SAC's two guest openers Adil and Naseeb built a steady platform before accelerating sharply once the fifty-run stand had been raised. It was therefore something of a surprise when Adil top-edged a sweep to be caught by the keeper for the day's top score of 38 and Naseeb gallantly retired after batting for 18 overs for 35. Praneeth then played some sweetly timed strokes -- including an inside-out cover drive for six that even the bowler applauded. Chantilly had also called on Lisses CC to fill some of their holiday gaps, so there was plenty of friendly banter in the heat. But once Praneeth was run out, only Salman stuck around for a score of note and Andrew Macintyre was obliged to pad up in haste as three down in the 28th over hurtled towards near oblivion by the 34th. Nevertheless, 242 was a healthy score and SAC felt confident going out to field.
Kareem and Shahzad, Chantilly's guest openers, quickly went about putting SAC’s seamers to the sword as their run chase got off to a flying start. It took a very good catch by Shaunak on the square leg boundary to separate them after 46 had been smashed in 8 overs. After Riyas was unluckily run out, the spinners came on and wreaked havoc. Six wickets fell in very short order and despite the ex-Derbyshire Academy player Adam and the returning Riyas (sportingly given a second knock since Chantilly were a man short) taking advantage of some charitable fielding, Money Singh returned to claim his fifth wicket of the innings and wrap up a Standard victory with the opposition finishing on 145 all out.
The result – a 97-run victory for Standard Athletic CC
With the UK tourist team The Rhinos up next, Standard's cricketers are looking forward to returning to home surroundings once again for this weekend’s two matches.