France Cricket ended on a captivating note in 2001 with a nail-biting finish to the Final of the Championship and then by taking part in the inaugural European Cricket Challenge at the Folkestone CC in Kent, U.K. The two finalists for this domestic season, Dreux CC and Standard Athletic Club (SAC) had reached the last match by virtue of victories over Paris Universite and Northern CC and then they produced their own exciting climax.

The 40-over final was played in cool but dry conditions at SAC's tree-lined ground in the Forest of Meudon, a few miles south-west of Paris on an artificial pitch which gave the bowlers considerable assistance throughout the match. At one stage SAC were 45/4 and then 61/6 and it needed a 9th wicket partnership between Rasab Ali (18) and Azhar Mahmood (10) to steer the Men of Meudon to 106 all out in 38 overs.

Dreux fared no better at the top of the order and lost their first five batsmen for 25 before a staunch 35 from Ryasat Zaman gave them their chance. Then Ian Hellawell the skipper dismissed Zaman with a beautifully disguised slower ball and at 101/9 and four overs left it needed a cool performance from Mohammad and Kashif to inch Dreux to victory with a diving, sliding single.

Cross-Channel links boosted in Folkestone

The Folkestone tournament, sponsored by SAGA, grew from an invitation extended to France by the late Lord Cowdrey in July 2000. The programme, of three matches played to 45 overs a side, featured the Kent county side, the Kent amateur club champions, and the national sides of France and Holland, the latter fresh from their triumph at the ICC Trophy in Canada.

Kent won the event with a 9-wicket victory over Holland—and that was the margin of victory when the Dutch met the French in the semi-final on Thursday September 13. France made 102 in 35.5 overs and the Dutch reached their required target in 20 overs. Just as important as the game itself was the chance for the squad to enjoy the excellent practice facilities at the hospitable Folkestone club, and undergo some vigorous physical tests with new physio Stéphanie Fouquet, who will be monitoring players' fitness throughout the winter.

Off the field, France's cross-Channel trip proved equally fruitful. Kent Chief Executive Paul Millman said that Kent would "ensure that our contact with cricket in France is maintained and developed, and we look forward to a fruitful relationship in future".

Guadeloupe youngsters making progress

France were to have taken part in the eight-nation cricket tournament organized by the United States Junior Cricket Association at Disney World Florida in October. The event has been postponed after the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

The French sqaud was to have comprised youngsters from as far afield as Cabris, on the Riviera; Damazan, in south-west France; and Château de Thoiry, near Paris—and also included two youngsters from Guadeloupe, Johan Prosper and Bruno Michet. This was the first time youngsters from one of France's overseas outposts had been included in a national side—a tribute to the tremendously rapid progress being made on the island by regional Development Officer Guy Brumant.

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