The men from Newcastle, New South Wales shrugged off the effects of their hectic socialising in Bangkok and Phuket on the way to Chiang Mai and got their act together to hammer an imposing 82-1 from their allotted five overs against Hong Kong-based Lamma C.C.

Former Australian international Trevor Chappell provided the class for the Warathais, with a confident innings of 30 retired, and although the aptly-named Nepalese Sher Lama scored a brave 31 retired for Lamma, the Hong Kong side were well beaten.

Chiang Mai-based Irish Pub Gang Green provided one of the day's highlights when one of their batsmen hit the "Big 10" Dimon/Standard Tobacco Export Company (STEC) sign on the boundary, earning 10 runs for his team and 4,000 baht for the tournament's highly-successful junior cricket programme, courtesy of the sponsors.

The "Big 10" is an innovation this year and yesterday's direct hit was the first bullseye so far.

So much interest is being shown in this year's event that even the South African Ambassador to Thailand made a brief visit to the Gymkhana Club ground yesterday.

Action continues today from 8.30am.

RESULTS

Cup/Bowl/Plate divisions: Lord's Taverners 80-3 (Carrington Shepherd 28 n.o.) beat Stairway to Heaven Drifters 44-1; Shenanigans Dilettantes 78-3 (P. Tripathi 31 retired) beat Awali Taverners 57-5 (K. Khalil 27 n.o.); Moonshine Warathais 82-1 (Trevor Chappell 30 ret) beat Lamma CC 65-2 (Sher Lama 31 ret); Lions of CMW 50-0 beat Southerners 48-1; Silver State 64-4 (A. Silva 32 ret) beat Darjeeling 62-4; Perth Postels 76-1 (K. Jackson 31 ret) beat Marchweil Outlaws 72-1 (Zac Pacey 31 ret); Shanghai Dragons 59-1 (M. Tsesmeus 30 ret) beat Ashwell Crusaders 57-3 (Neil Sen 30 ret); Awali Taverners 42-1 (M. Warnapura 32 n.o.) beat Stairway to Heaven Drifters 38-2

Spoon: Bangkok Postels 69-3 beat Living Dolls 53-4 (Rob Roberts 31 ret); Halylt 84-2 beat Shenanigans Malakas 65-3; Wombats 74-1 beat Living Dolls 55-3 (Rob Roberts 31 ret); Irish Pub Gang Green 77-1 beat Shenanigans Malakas 58-4