Tunbridge Wells CC reach European Super League final making, 'amazing memories along the way'

“An incredible journey with amazing memories along the way” was how Tunbridge Wells CC skipper Chris Williams described the club’s first European adventure.

While his team lost in the final of the European Super League (Ten10 format) in Malaga, Spain, the club put in some tremendous displays in a rain-affected event which meant some of the ten-over-a-side matches were reduced to five each.

Nevertheless Tunbridge won six of their eight group matches in incredibly pressurised circumstances until losing in that showdown on the last day against Spanish club, PIC Badalona CC.

“It was a very chaotic week,” said Williams, who along with his brother Alex top-scored with the bat, while Matt Barker was named Bowler of the Tournament and incredibly recorded a two-wicket maiden – against the eventual winners no less.

“We got there and it was pouring with rain for the first three days so there was a lot of uncertainty and it took a while for us to build up any sort of optimism that we were going to play, the weather was so bad.

“The ground was literally under water for the first two days and then the competition organisers did an amazing job in getting the ground to a place where it was playable.

“It then meant we condensed what was meant to be a five-day competition into three days. And it created a really busy schedule, even shorter matches. It made for a very intense few days of cricket but it was great fun.”

Such a short format was basically the batting side throwing the kitchen sink at every delivery and Williams added: “There were no real tactics required and it was try to hit every ball to the boundary. It’s incredible pressure when you’ve only got five overs. Every over is so important. For every batsman, every bowler and for