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Germany and Switzerland produced the most competitive match of the tournament so far at Rastignano on Monday afternoon, with Germany ultimately holding on to secure a three-wicket victory.

And cricketing history was made, as the winning run was scored by one of three girls in the German side, Franziska Ziegler, whose 32-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Leonhard Gerhards made sure of a win which had at one point seemed in danger. Ziegler, a late replacement in the German squad, was only cleared to play by the Event Technical Committee on Monday morning.

Germany had the upper hand for much of the game, reducing the Swiss to 73 for seven before a crucial stand between George Gaillet and Ross Cameron added 82, more than doubling the total. Cameron was the leading partner, making 51 from 43 deliveries with nine fours, while Gaillet was last out in the Swiss innings for a patient 29.

Twelve-year-old Chase Edwards, the youngest member of the German side, set his elders a fine example by taking three for 23 in the middle of the Swiss innings, while there were also three wickets for Dennis Vardanian, who dismissed both openers and later returned to remove Gaillet.

The cornerstone of the German reply was opener Haras Mubarik, who saw his side to within 46 runs of their target in making a fine 56-ball 62, with eleven boundaries. But with the total on 113 he played a wild stroke and was bowled by James Hadden, leaving the task of finishing off the chase to Gerhards and the lower order.

Three more wickets fell for 14 runs, and at 127 for seven Germany seemed in danger of defeat. The Swiss ground fielding was outstanding on an unforgiving outfield, certainly amongst the best we have seen so far, with Merrennage Fernando’s run-out of Dennis Vardanian one of the highlights.

With 32 needed and plenty of overs in hand, Gerhards and Ziegler were content to pick up runs as best they could, and there were still more than three overs left when Ziegler drove the ball through mid-off for the winning run. Gerhards remained on 25 not out.