[CRICKET] Defending champions YesNoWaitSorries, the surprise winners of last year, took up where they left off by winning their first game of the 18th Chiang Mai Sixes yesterday.

They began strongly, scoring 70 for the loss of one wicket, blowing away the local Irish Pub Gang Green (newly promoted from the Spoon Division this year) who were all out for just 32.

With the official welcome taken care of by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the cricket swung in action with each of the six round-robin groups in Round 1 of the event seeing action.

The social cricketer’s Spoon competition was first up, with the local Gymkhana Cavaliers against last year’s losing finalists Halylt of England, who again showed themselves to be contenders for the trophy posting a handy 63 for 0.

But local eyes were on the Cavs’ team which this year for the first time includes several young Thai graduates of the local Sawasdee Cricket programme for junior schools. The Halylt score looked to be too much for the slow starting Cavs, but the Gymkhana openers, aided by some wayward bowling and sound striking of the ball by Sawasdee graduate “Orf” edged ever closer to a winning score. With three runs needed off the last ball Orf managed a two and the match ended as a tie with Gymkhana also on 63 for 0.

Chiang Mai Sixes 18 year veterana the Wombats racked up the highest score of the day (89 for 0), thanks to a big innings from Woollie (31no). This was easily too much for the defending Spoon champions Bangkok Postels who managed only 64 for 2 in reply.

In the main competition, Round 1 decides which teams go on to the Cup, Shield, Bowl or Plate. This first day’s action provided some clear indications of main contenders.

The Perth Postels, on their 10th trip, notched up two wins out of two in convincing style, first over the STH Drifters then the local tobacco team The Mujibas. This match provided the first “Big 10” hit of the tournament when Mujibas’ David Hird hit the Champion sign on the fly, so scoring a boundary 10 runs and earning a donation towards junior cricket development from the sign sponsors.

One of the most exciting encounters of the day pitted the Awali Taverners from Bahrain against Chiang Mai first timers the Tokyo Wombats. Awali batted first and notched up a reasonable 62 runs for the loss of three wickets, Sanjay Ratmod hitting a fine 30no.

For the Tokyo new boys, Andy Hall replied with 31no. With just one ball left new man in Ian Gason managed to get his pads in the way and scored two leg-byes to tie the scores at 62. Tokyo Wombats won by dint of losing one less wicket.

Sixes action continues with more Round 1 matches today, with last year’s Cup Runners Up Surrey Vagrants taking on Australia’s Moonshine Warathais with ex-Test star Trevor Chappell.

The Nation

Chiang Mai