DUBAI
A cricket-filled Easter holiday in Dubai , featuring professional coaching by international players , competitive matches and memorable excursions .
During the Easter holidays a group of 14 girls in Years 9 and 10 travelled to Dubai to participate in the R66T Dubai Cricket Cup 2024 .
The trip started off with a bang as we had the opportunity to be coached by the UAE international Chaya Mughal . Before announcing her retirement from international cricket in September of 2023 , Chaya captained the UAE side in both the 2021 and 2022 Women ’ s T20 World Cup Qualifiers . The training day at Dubai College consisted of acclimatising and practising batting , bowling and fielding . Spirits were high as everyone was looking forward to the upcoming matches .
It was a great experience playing four competitive T25 matches ; we faced the local Desert Vipers , the Royal Hospital School from England and South Island from New Zealand . We played three matches at the Sevens Stadium , where we also witnessed the West Indies train before their test series against Pakistan , and the final day of the competition was hosted at the ICC Academy .
Some memorable excursions also contributed to a fun-filled tour : a day at Wild Wadi Waterpark ; Dubai Mall ( the largest shopping mall in the world ), where we watched the renowned fountain show ; and Kite Beach , with the cafes on the promenade making it perfect for an afternoon snack .
Overall , the tour helped us gel as a team , as well as broaden our understanding of cricket . Our improvements in ability and tactics have been showcased in our recent matches . We would like to thank Mr Smith , Miss Shibil , Mr Holden and Sportz Journey for organising this invaluable experience that we will remember for many years to come !
Victoria Kern , Year 10
SEVENOAKS SCHOOL 2023-2024 77