PETER CUMMINS

After a day of close, intense batting, Group leaders began to consolidate their positions. s

Group A Leader (7 pts) Yes No Wait Sorries (England ) defending Cup Champs;

Group B: Surrey Vagrants 7 pts) Cup Runners-up (England); Awali Taverners 8 pts. (Bahrain); Group C: Gloucestershire Gipsies (8 Pts England); Group E: Lords Taverners. Former Cup Winners (0 pnts. Australia) and the Spoon: Halylt. So far unbeaten

In the warm, friendly climate of Chiang Mai and the tree-encumbered old world ambience of the 107-year-old Gymkhana Club, the 2005 Sixes, mooted as the world’s biggest amateur cricket tournament, setting a record this year, with 30 teams comprising aty least 240 players and a legion of supporters, officials, umpires and spectators.

Furthermore, Cricket Sixes are now played all over the Kingdom within the month, with competitions in Bangkok, Hua Hin and, now, Phuket, as well as Chiang Mai.

Much focus will be on the second edition of the Phuket Sixes,

Around the cricket arena are four signs on the boundary and any batter who can hit one of these signs, earns 10 runs and a donation for Thai Junior development.

A “cut-throat” game between the Awali Taverners and the Surrey Vagrants, saw the Taverners, with a mighty hit by Sanjay Rathod, pushing his team to a one run victory,

82-81. By hitting the Champion banner on the full, Sanjay scored 10 points and scored

Baht 3,000 from Champion donated for the development of Thai Junior Cricket. The

Other close encounters were between the Lord’s Taverners and the Southerners, with just one run in favour of the latter and the Surrey Vagrants one run ahead of the CMW Warriors.

Today is the famous Gymkhana “Pig Out”, with four succulent spit-roasted pigs sponsored by STEC. As the Chiang Mai Sixes is an international event, however, there

Will also be vegetarian food for the non pork-eaters.

The evening features hilarious acts and charades by various national teams.

Results, at the end of Day 3:

SPOON DIVISION

Hallylt 52/1 (Dan Jones 28) def Bangkok Postels 46/0 (Richie Sulway); TQ Malakas 53/5 (Orf, 4 wkts/20) def Gymkhana Cavaliers 50/3; TQ Malakas 70/1 def Wombats 69/0

MAIN DRAW

Lord’s Taverners 59/0 (Andy 30 n.o.) def Southerners 56/2; Darjeeling 59/4 (Greg Moses 29 n.o.) def Shanghai Dragons ( 46/4); Marchweil Outlaws 79/0 (Robert Hall, 31 n.o; Hashan 30 n.o.) def Blythswood 51/3; Awali Taverners 82/0 (Kalu Withgrand 30 n.o.) def Surrey Vagrants 81/0 (Mark Higgs 31 n.o.); Yarrambat 68/5 def Almar 66/1;

Syd Silver 32 n.0.) Yes No Wait Sorries 72/0 (Mark Briers 31 n.o.) def Shanghai Dragons 69/2); Surrey Vagrants 48/0 (Mark Higgs 33 n.o.) def CMW Warriors 46/3; Marchwiel Outlaws 90/0 (Sean Morrison 34 n.o., Lord Hall 31 n.o.) def Southerners 56/4; Gloucestershire Gipsies 57/0 def Yarrambat 54/4; Awali Taverners 83/1 def CMW Warriors 50/2.