Peter Cummins, Chiang Mai

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

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.

With a lot of interest now focused on the four series of Cricket Sixes taking place at various locations in Thailand, the inter-net connection brings the excitement into the big world outside.

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 (machinations?) of the lovely ladies of the Beauty Parlour.

And what did Eric do (rather, 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 Baht 5,000, donated to CMSCA. The huge passing parade of cricketers who passed to see, were summarily charged Baht 100 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.

RESULTS:

SPOON

Gymkhana Cavaliers 60/1 (Chris Simmonds 33 n.o.) def Bangkok Postels 56/2; Halylt 48/0 (Dan Jones 30 n.o.) def Wombats 47/1 (Peter Nitsche 30 n.o.).

MAIN DRAW

MBMG Dilettantes 73/1 Dan Nicholas 30 n.o.) def Irish Pub Gang Green 66/2; Cricketeers 92/0 (Rehan Rashid 32 n.o., Athar Ali Khan 30 n.o.) def Ashwell Crusaders

72/1 (Darren Cousins (31 n.o.); Southerners 76/3 def Divine Felons 73/1 (Stuart Davenport (31 n.o.); Silver State CC 62/0 (Amal 30 n.o.) def Sugar Shack 60/2; Perth Postels 67/0 def Ashwell Crusaders 66/3 (Darren Cousins 34 n.o.); Southerners 68/0 (Peter Goodchap 32 n.0.) def Blytheswood 66/4 (Abbas Mirza 30 n.o); Marchwiel Outlaws 103/1 (Zac Pacey 35 n.o., Justin Kersey 30 n.o.) def Divine Felons 49/1 (Paul

Madigan 31 n.o.); Ashwell Crusaders 60/2 def STH Drifters 54/1 (N. Home 29 n.o.);

Moonshine Warathais 84/0 (Steve Christie 30 n.o.) def Tokyo Wombats 54/2 (Jarred Shearer 31 n.o.); Darjeeling 101/2 def Irish Pub Gang Green 36/3.