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Report by Ramesh Sripatnala, youth coordinator, Amsterdamsche Cricket Club (ACC), Friday, 22-08-2025
If you have played, watched, lived, or loved cricket in the Netherlands, chances are you’ve heard of the historic Flamingo Junior Tournament. For a century, it has been a proud stage for cricketers, and this year ACC was honored to take part in its 100th edition.
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ACC’s Preparation
Despite the holiday season making it difficult to gather a full squad, ACC proudly fielded a team with committed players from U13, U15, and U17. The team spirit was remarkable:
• One injured all-rounder chose to keep wicket and bat instead of sitting out.
• Another, in the middle of moving houses, still made himself available.
• Our youngest player, an 11-year-old girl, bravely stepped up to join the side.
Special thanks to the ACC board, secretary Ernst-Pieter Knupfer, and youth coordinator Ramesh Sripatnala for their support. Thanks also to parents and opposition clubs who lent players when needed—making it possible for ACC to participate and represent proudly.
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Warm Welcome
On Day 1, ACC received a heartfelt welcome from HCC and Flamingo representative Thijs Vermeulen, who shared the history of the tournament and its strong ties with ACC. Each team member was presented with a commemorative 100-year cap and enjoyed a warm lunch together—a memorable start to the tournament.
Match 1: ACC vs VRA + Punjab (Combi)
• Result: Punjab CCR–VRA Combi won by 70 runs
• Bowling: The strong opposition lineup posted 170/5. ACC’s Samyak Jain bowled brilliantly, taking 2 wickets for just 19 runs.
• Batting: Despite fighting knocks from Advay Shubedar, Samyak Jain, Arrush Nadakatta, Daniyal Adnan, Malyar Safi, and Rakesh Sripatnala, ACC fell short of the target.
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Match 2: ACC vs VCC 2
Morning rain meant both sides joined forces to cover and uncover the pitch—a true display of teamwork even before the game began. Special thanks to Marc Nota and the Flamingo/HCC volunteers for ensuring play went ahead.
• Result: ACC won by 7 wickets
• Bowling: A disciplined effort restricted VCC2 to just 70 runs. Wickets were shared:
o Samyak Jain – 1
o Rouhin Banerjee – 2
o Rehan Muhammad – 3
o Daniyal Adnan – 2
o Akshaya Sripatnala – 2 (our young female talent making a big impact)
o Advay Shubedar opened with a tight spell, conceding only 3 runs in 2 overs.
• Fielding: A highlight was Advay Subhedar’s sharp catch to dismiss Arrush Nadakatta (26 off 28) — an ACC player who chose to play for VCC 2, building a strong partnership with captain Geronimo Nota (18 off 20).
• Batting: ACC’s chase was led in style by:
o Rakesh Sripatnala – 24 (24) with an attacking captain’s knock
o Daniyal Adnan – 33 (32)
o Rouhin Banerjee – 11 (20)
Together they secured victory with confidence.
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Match 3: ACC vs HCC
• Result: HCC won by 127 runs
• Bowling: Despite spirited fielding efforts, ACC couldn’t contain HCC’s strong batting lineup, who posted 181 runs. ACC managed two wickets in the field.
• Batting: The top order showed intent but luck wasn’t on our side. Notable efforts included:
o Daniyal Adnan – 11 (12)
o Rehan Muhammad – 22 (21)
o An unfortunate run-out ended skipper Rakesh Sripatnala’s innings early, which dented ACC’s chase. Borrowed players from Punjab and HCC also chipped in, but the target proved too steep.
• Highlight: An HCC bowler Gijs Amerongen claimed a rare hat-trick, dismissing three batters in a row—each from a different club (Punjab, HCC, and ACC).
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Afternoon Training Sessions
For non-playing players, Flamingo organized special training sessions every afternoon in collaboration with Cover Drive. Chris Smith, well-known for his specialized training programs such as Stephe Jones fast bowling techniques and power-hitting from Julian Woods, led the sessions. He was joined by coach Fazil Mahmoud, A KNCB coach and owner of Coach Fazil’s Cricket Academy who has shaped the foundations of many youth cricketers in the Netherlands. This ensured that even those not in action on the field benefited and grew from the tournament experience.
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Closing Ceremony – Day 2
The tournament was more than just matches—it was about history, connections, and memories. ACC players had the privilege of meeting Max de Bruin, whose family has been loyal ACC members for four generations and instrumental in the club’s growth.
Players received medals, appreciation, and recognition—moments they will cherish for years to come.
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👉 A big thank you to Flamingo, HCC, HBS, Quick the opposition teams, parents, players and all those who are directly, indirectly involved and made this historic 100th edition possible.
All the best to the semi-finalists and finalists today