Luxembourg's Star CC rounded off a remarkable year by winning the 2003 LCF-Crosscom league, becoming the first team to lift the trophy twice. This win followed success in the Val Glover 2003 cup (contested by Luxembourg's top 3 teams) and a narrow 1 run defeat in the six-a-side final. The Star team won all its league matches, with all players contributing significantly.

Photo © ECC

The season started off with a match against the Black Stuff CC. The Star bowlers, still shaking off the close season cobwebs, produced a performance which they would probably prefer to forget, getting only 2 opposition batsmen out and allowing the opposition to score a healthy 169/2. However, after losing opener D Gianchandani cheaply, Paul (100 not out) and Anand (25) put on 96 runs which gave Star victory by 8 wickets.

In the next game against the Ducks & Ferrets, Star, batting first, posted the highest total of the tournament to date, with 282/7. A strong start from skipper Gandhi (25), Sawhney (63) and D Gianchandani (32) laid the foundations for an onslaught by the later batsmen, Ramachandran (92) and Anand (34 no). DFCC never were in the hunt and could manage only 119 in reply with Nasir, Tilak and Raju picking up 2 wickets apiece.

The game against the Rugby CC understandably had the Star team, playing without their skipper, very cautious. Few in the Star team have forgotten the match against the same opposition in 2002, which put Star out of the reckoning for the championship in 2002. Batting first, Star bettered their record total of the previous match, ending on 295 all out with Sawhney (130), Ramachandran (31), Anand (27 no) and Trivedi (21) being key contributors. Rugby CC replied with 195 all out, with Trivedi and Motiani taking 2 wickets apiece.

The next match pitted Star against Communities CC, who boast perhaps the strongest bowling line up amongst all participating teams. Batting first, a solid start from Anand (33), Gandhi (45) and Paul (43) set the stage for a typical blitzkrieg from Ramachandran (60 no) and allowed the Stars to post a respectable 248/5. In reply, Communities CC managed 195 runs with Star using 9 bowlers to bowl the required 35 overs. Raju, Trivedi and Paul took 2 wickets each.

On the morning of the match against defending champions, Walferdange Optimists CC, the Star players knew that a win would all but ensure it the trophy. WOCC batted first and scored 161/8 in its allotted 35 overs after Star turned in a very disciplined bowling performance - Trivedi, Manjula and D Gianchandani taking 2 wickets apiece. Trivedi, after being thrashed at the midweek practice session by the WOCC star batsman, Heath, turned the tables by having him caught behind without scoring, to set the tone for the remaining bowlers. With its previous performances, a score of 162 was not expected to pose much of a problem; however, the uncertainties of this wonderful game should never be underestimated. After a relatively secure start with Gandhi, Anand and Marriker all getting useful 20s, Star found itself behind the run rate coming into the last 5 overs. Manjula, the youngest of the Star players, chose an opportune moment to play a cameo knock of 31 no which saw the Stars reaching the total with 9 balls to spare. The team could not be blamed for a celebratory meal after this victory, despite the last game of the season still being 2 weeks away.

Batting first in the last game against the Optimists Maidens CC, Star declared their innings at 291/9 after Raju reached the magical 100 mark. Tilak (32) & Trivedi (38), normally used to opening the bowling attack, found able allies in each other in putting together an 80 run opening batting partnership. OMCC replied with 117/9 with Tilak (3), Motiani, Sawhney and Trivedi (2 each) sharing the spoils.

With the Luxembourg Cricket Federations executive committee deciding to give the youngest of Star's players, Manjula, an award for the 'best young talent', Star's victory for the year 2003 was complete. The Stars would like to extend a big thank you to the executive committee of the LCF for a well-organised year of cricket, and to the Optimists for playing host to all the matches at the Walferdange Cricket ground. Finally, it wishes to extend its appreciation to all the participating cricket teams for a hard fought and interesting 2003 league. A special thanks to all the umpires, whose job is always the most difficult.