Chiang Mai _ As the 18th Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes tournament, being played out at the Chiengmai Gymkhana Club cricket ground, ended the fourth day yesterday, strong batting was a feature, with the Darjeeling team topping the competition score, hitting a sparkling 106.

Now, with the competition well past the half-way mark, today, after seven early games, the 30 teams will be divided into five divisions: Cup, Shield, Bowl, Plate and Spoon, for quarter and semi finals. Halylt, undefeated in the Spoon Division, goes automatically into these final rounds.

In yesterday's other actions, the Cricketeers won the Group D in the last game of the day, defeating Mujibas, to edge out the undefeated Perth Postels, at the top of this division, 13 points to 12.

In spite of the exciting batting, bowling and some exceptional fielding, the highlight of Day Four, however, must have been Eric Little's foray into the beauty parlour established at the Cricket ground.

This worthy Aussie, captain of the Gymkhana Cavaliers and long-time coach and Coaching Co-ordinator of the burgeoning junior cricketers from the Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance (CMSCA), submitted himself to the manipulations of the lovely ladies of the Beauty Parlour.

And what did Eric have done? He went for a triple colour hair make-over, including a sunset pink and a day-glo yellow. Each colour was sponsored for 5,000 baht, donated to CMSCA.

The huge passing parade of cricketers who passed to see, were summarily charged 100 baht a look (or, should that read a lock).

For a few more baht, Eric was ready for some ear and nose rings but he absolutely refused a tattoo.

The Bangkok Post

31 March 2005