Alan Parkhouse
The Nation, Chiang Mai

[CRICKET] There were some tense moments and some very close games on the second last day of the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes yesterday, with a few hangovers, bloodshot eyes and early starts as teams battled for places in the semi-finals.

And there was also some excellent cricket played in all the divisions contested in the hot, humid conditions at the 106-year-old Chiengmai Gymkhana Club grounds.

Despite being handicapped with the name Yes No Wait Sorries, the English side went through to the semi-finals in the premier Cup division, along with the Perth Postels, who beat Bangladeshi team the Commonwealth CC in a very close game yesterday mainly thanks to big hitting South African Kenny Jackson.

In the other Cup semi it will be the Surrey Vagrants and the Commonwealth CC, who had the best second place finish yesterday to make it through to the semis despite their loss to the Postels.

In the Bowl semis the Marchwiell Outlaws from Wales will play Zimbabwe's Te Pakeha, and the Moonshine Warathais from Australia will take on the Javea Wanderers of Spain.

In the Plate final, with only four teams yesterday, the Bangkok-based Southerners will take on the Ashwell Crusaders of England.

Darjeeling CC sadly missed out on going through, which is a great shame as the organisers have renamed the division the Joe Carpenter Plate this year after Darjeeling's late chairman, who recently passed away.

One of the gutsiest performances of the day came from former Sri Lankan international Ruchira Palliyaguru, who was stretchered off on Thursday with a bad groin strain.

He took the field against doctor's advice yesterday for Almar CC against the Lions of CMW from Thailand in the Cup division and hit a four from the first ball he faced followed by two huge sixes.

The Sri Lankan, who could hardly walk, had a runner who didn’t have to raise a sweat as he hit six after six to finish with 29 from 13 balls.

Unfortunately his efforts were not enough to take Almar through to the finals.

Despite earlier predictions of fatigue, the Moonshine Warathais were very impressive in their early morning first match yesterday against the Awali Taverners from Bahrain, with some very tight bowling pushing them to a convincing win.

Former Australian international Trevor Chappell conceded only seven runs off the last over, but it was Ian "Reds" Liddell who did the real damage to the Awalis, giving away only two runs off his bowling and taking one wicket.

The Warathais are now into the Bowl semi-final and will face the Spain-based Javea Wanderers today and look a strong chance to defend their title.

Chappell took time out after his match with the Warathais yesterday to conduct a coaching clinic in the nets with some local junior players and said there were a few very promising young fast bowlers in the group.

Jim Hawker
Bangkok Post, Chiang Mai

Vagrants, Postels set up Cup semi-final showdown

Warathais on course
to defend Bowl title

Unbeaten Surrey Vagrants took their expected place in the Cup semi-finals on day six of the Chiang Mai International Sixes at the Gymkhana Club yesterday - but they face a final-four showdown today against never-say-die Perth Postels. English side the Vagrants, winners of last week's inaugural Phuket Sixes, won both their second-round matches yesterday, against 2002 champions Lord's
Taverners from Australia and Hong Kong-based Lamma C.C.
Former Essex captain Paul Prichard, and the unrelated Hinds, Jeremy and Franklin, all starred with the bat for the Vagrants yesterday - and all three will need to be at their best today against the Postels in what should be a great semi-final.

The Western Australians overcame talented Bangladeshi outfit Commwealth C.C. to once again reach the Cup semi-finals, and as always their South African all-rounder Kenny Jackson led the way, with a hard-hit 32 retired. The personable Jackson was given fine suppport by Phil Catterall (31 not out) and now the Postels will be eying a repeat of their 1999 Cup triumph.

The other Cup semi-final will feature Yes No Wait Sorries from England against Commonwealth, who qualified as the best second-placed team from the three Cup groups.

Probably the highlight of yesterday's Cup action was a brave performance by Sri Lankan international Ruchira Palliyaguru, sadly in a losing cause for South Africans Almar. Palliyaguru defied medical advice by playing despite suffering a serious groin injury on Thursday. Despite being unable to run, the Sri Lankan hammered 29, including three big sixes, and bowled an economical over as
Almar lost to Thailand side Lions of CMW. Palliyaguru also batted and bowled for the Sri Lankan All-Stars who beat Rest of the World team in the Stars Challenge.

The Moonshine Warathais, like fellow Australians the Postels well schooled in playing their best when feeling at their worst, made it through to the semi-finals of the Bowl, the competition they won last year. Pundits were writing off the Warathais' chances of progressing, figuring that an early start to their must-win match against Awali Taverners would prove too much of a handicap for the sociable men from Newcastle, New South Wales. But with former captain Steve Christie cracking the whip with a fierce early-morning call for the team, the Warathais rose to the occasion against Bahrain-based Awali. Former Australia Test and one-dayer player Trevor Chappell and Ian "Reds" Liddell bowled two tight overs after Awali's dangerous Sri Lankan guest star Malinda Warnapura had scored a whirlwind 32 retired. Those overs proved crucial as the Warathais successfully defended their total of 82-0 and in today's Bowl semi-final they will play Spain-based Javea Wanderers.

The other semi will feature Chiang Mai-based Te Pakeha
against the powerful Marchwiel Outlaws.

Today's Plate final should be a spirited affair, with English side Ashwell Crusaders facing the popular Southerners from Bangkok.
The highly-successful 5th Sawasdee Cup, played in conjunction with the Sixes, concluded yesterday and all week long the mostly Thai schoolchildren showed their talent at cricket.

The Grade Five competition for 11-year-olds was won by Sai Moon school from Hang Dong, who beat Baan Mae Phong 239-202 in the final. Prince Royal College A won the Grade Six competition for 12-year-olds, defeating Chol Prathan Phataek from Doi Saket 248-233 in the final.

Today's Sixes finals day starts at 8.50am and all are welcome to attend. Admission is free.

RESULTS

Cup

Lord's Taverners 59-3 lost to Surrey Vagrants 60-1 (Franklin Hinds 31
ret); Lions of CMW 78-2 (Ajaz 32 ret) beat Almar 59-4 (Ruchira Palliyaguru 29); Commonwealth C.C. 69-2 lost to Perth Postels 71-0 (Kenny Jackson 32 ret, Phil Catterall 31 n.o.); Surrey Vagrants 85-2 (Paul Prichard 31 ret, Jeremy Hinds 30 ret) beat Lamma C.C. 62-3 (Sher Lama 29).

Bowl

Te Pakeha 86-1 (Steve Penney 32 ret, G. Chatfield 31 ret) beat Javea
Wanderers 78-2 (Lantra Fernando 24); Moonshine Warathais 81-2 (Trevor Chappell 23) beat Awali Taverners 67-0 (Malinda Warnapura 32 ret); Marchwiel Outlaws 78-1 (Dean Morrison 31 ret) beat Silver State 30-5.

Plate

B.A. Dragons 62-4 (Ravinda Pushpakumara 35 ret) lost to Southerners 64-0 (James Moss 30 ret); Ashwell Crusaders 62-3 beat Darjeeling 57-1.

Spoon

Bangkok Postels 75-0 beat Gymkhana Cavaliers 73-1 (Terry Kersey 31 ret); Wombats 58-0 (James Bell 33 ret) lost to Shenanigans Malakas 59-2; Halyt 85-0 (Neil Hutchinson 30 ret) beat Living Dolls 68-0 (Rob Roberts 31 ret).

Stars Challenge

Sri Lankan All-Stars 83-4 (Ravinda Pushpakumara 34 ret) beat Rest of the World 69-2 (Kenny Jackson 30 ret)