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TV personality Andrea Croonenberghs
Action in the arena
Leah Thijs, leading actress from the 'Thuis' series

Belgium’s 12-hours of indoor cricket to raise funds for victims of the Boxing Day Tsunami moved smoothly through Saturday 5th February with inter-club matches, junior games, two internationals against a strong France side and 90 minutes of celebrity cricket featuring 16 of the country’s leading actors and actresses.

A major aim had been to incur zero costs so that every cent raised went to Tsunami 12-12, Belgium’s umbrella relief organization. This was achieved through the exceptional generosity of every organization involved – from the local Edegem council, to the Red Cross, to AAR Sound & Light who supplied the sound systems and a large number of people who donated time and material free.

Highlights of the day’s cricket included two Belgium-France matches – with France winning the first and Belgium the second. An unexpected moment came late in the day when the country’s youngest club, the four-month old Ghent Arcadians CC, beat Royal Brussels, the country’s oldest club at 145 years and last year’s League Champions. The guys from Ghent managed to nab the scorecard, and by Sunday afternoon there were rumours that Charles Bloomaert, Ghent’s chairman, had already had it framed.

Robert Sian, an Antwerp club player and an actor, who arranged the attendance of the 16 actors and actresses, got the celebrity event underway with a quick briefing about how to play the game, followed by a warm-up. Then they started playing for real… with a television crew, radio reporter and newspaper photographers roaming the floor filming, recording and interviewing. The effort our guests put in was huge, with many even launching themselves into full-out bowling with successful results. The celebrities all wore red Aids Awareness ribbons, as did the Belgium team.

It was pleasing to note coverage by two television stations and a three-minute report on national radio together with newspaper coverage about the event came afterwards.

Cricket Belgium thanks all 16 celebrities who put in so much effort and, according to Robert, thoroughly enjoyed their cricket!