Dominique Perrin was in Geneva for last weekend's 'internationals' between France and Switzerland. He files this report:
"Spectacular hitting, a massacre, and a nail-biting fightback made for a thrilling weekend of 50-over ODI cricket as Switzerland hosted France on the fast astroturf pitch at the Bout du Monde (World's End) Stadium in Geneva on May 20/21.
Switzerland won the toss and inserted France on both days. On Saturday that meant a rapid baptism for French d butant opener Thierry Pascal. If he was nervous, it didn't show. His first scoring shot was six over point, and he eased his way to 73 off 105 balls, putting on 75 for the first wicket with Paul Wakefield (37). Tidy spells from Kamran (10 overs for 27) and Babar (10 overs for 30) prevented France from capitalizing on this fine start, and when Pascal departed, after 37 overs, France were 158-4. The next ten overs saw a turnaround as France added 87 runs, skipper Simon Hewitt smashing five sixes en route to 66 off 33 balls. Peter Linton added a quick-fire 30 as France closed on 281-6.
Switzerland needed a solid start but Linton made sure they didn't get it, snaffling both openers, Jimmy and Mahsood Khan, for 4 and 1 respectively. A powerful return from Pascal Culverhouse at wide mid-on saw a startled Kanan run out for 3 and, when Nelson Burrell was ousted by an overhead catch from Philippe Martin at backward-point, Switzerland were 28-6. Tom Brink, batting 6, marshalled some lower-order resistance with 10 not out, but the Swiss were dismissed for 61 in 25.1 overs.
The French were cockahoop after posting their biggest-ever victory of 220 runs, but they were in no mood to relax the next day, arriving at the ground 90 minutes before play for a vigorous training routine under coach Bobby Parks and new physio Isabelle Leboeuf. France kept an unchanged side but Switzerland brought in Jacques Boshoff for Nasir Hamirani as captain. That looked a thankless task as Paul Wakefield (112) and Sujeewa Mahavadinage (141) added 217 for the second wicket in just 25 overs, Sujeewa overcoming a shaky start to clout 10 sixes and 14 fours. When Wakefield gave up his wicket, France were 280-3 with 11 overs remaining. But a combination of tidy bowling from Boshoff, who finished with 3-38 from 10, and some unconvincing strokeplay from France's re-arranged batting order, saw the innings wind down sedately to 330-6.
The Swiss, showing tremendous resilience after their mauling the day before, reached 155-2 off 30 overs. Kanan and Nelson Burrell then accelerated, posting a stand of 137 before Kanan was caught behind off Ebert for 81. Although repeatedly beaten outside off-stump by 16 year-old speed sensation Sulanga Richmond-the only Frenchman to bowl a consistent line and length-Nelson Burrell now took control, ensuring that Switzerland kept pace with, then overtook, an asking-rate of 9 per over. The score read 315-5 with four overs left when he was brilliantly caught for 135 (97 balls) at deep-midwicket by Defez.
Babar was promptly bowled by Linton but skipper Boshoff was in no mood to forego a famous victory. Yet he was left stranded, astounded and furious when Mounir refused his call, and a pinpoint boundary throw from Bordes had him back in the hut. That saw the Swiss into the last over on 323-8. Two balls later Mounir was caught behind and they were 324-9. Seven runs, and four balls from Peter Linton, stood between last man Von Tuble and hero status. The first was fast, bouncy and signalled wide. The second was fast, straight, almost in the block hole, not quite. Von Tuble swung, connected, and the ball sailed away over square leg for an extraordinary Swiss victory."