Finland catches the spirit with junior cricket event

Following the successful junior cricket camp held back in June (the 1st part of Finland's ICC Centenary celebration's programme), the FCA's main event was held at the Tali Indoor Sports Hall in Helsinki on Sunday 9th August.

The event was marketed in advance throughout the cricketing community in Finland, such that juniors from as far afield as Alajärvi (450km from Helsinki) came to participate.

This time the juniors were mentored by Finnish national team players and were split into four teams representing England, Australia, Pakistan and India in the "first ever international" test-country-tournament held in Finland. In the fast flowing round-robin matches fun was had by all as balls flew around the hall and wickets fell.

Pakistan and England fought their way through to the final and in a close last ball finish.

After the junior tournament, the juniors and their watching parents were treated to an exhibition match played by the national team players against a League All Stars team.

The centenary celebrations were brought to a close with a presentations ceremony for the juniors, with ICC pins for all participants, and trophies for the winning team and for the best newcomer, Susanna Paavola, to crown her early morning wake up from Alajärvi.