Justin Moseley " Chiang Mai

Irish Pub beat last year’s Cup winners

The San Miguel Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes got off to a cracking start yesterday, so cracking in fact that the bowling broke the stumps!! 

The prediction in this column yesterday that the round robin format can produce upsets proved entirely accurate as the local Chiang Mai based Irish Pub played some dream cricket to resoundingly beat last year’s Cup winners the Surrey Vagrants.  To add further enjoyment to the Irish Pub win was the tournament’s first Big 10 hit by star player Wannie (there are three advertising banners on the boundary and hitting one scores 10 runs and the sponsors of the banner - in this case STEC - have to donate 3,000 baht to the junior Thai cricket programme).  No-one hit a Big 10 last year so let’s hope for some more this year, which are great to see and also benefit the local cricket scene.

In the opening match of the tournament the Udon Thani Richmond Steakies lost in a close game to the Bangkok Postels - credit must be given to both teams (and officials of course!) for making it to the ground on time after the the lively welcome party the previous evening at the Pornping Hotel.  In a later game the English team Armadillos beat the Australians of Yarrambat.  In a game between villains (in name anyway!), the loot was taken by the Divine Felons, who beat their partners in crime the Floggers & Robbers by 24 runs.  This game also saw Asif of the Divine Felons strike the first 6 of the tournament.  The Warathais from Australia scored a comfortable victory over Darjeeling from the UAE, who only managed to score 49 for 2.  Steve Christie of the Warathais made a fine bowling start to the tournament by taking a wicket from his first ball and Trevor Chappell aimed his shots well clear of otherwise good fielding from Darjeeling.  The Stuffed Beavers were indeed stuffed on this occasion, albeit after a tight game, by the Greeks of Ios Malakas.  

History was made by the Wombats who fielded first for the first time in their 22 years of playing in the Sixes " the Guinness Book of Records has been informed.  Fielding first seemed to work, for, in their game against the local Gymkhana Cavaliers, the Wombats actually won another game, a feat normally against their intentions.     

On safety matters, in addition to more netting to prevent errant balls from hitting spectators, all batsmen this year are being recommended to wear helmets, but few have so far heeded this sound advice - in the heat of the game out in the crease, who can blame them?  Further on accidental happenings, the Drifters injury woes started earlier than usual this year with poor Tubby Jenner being sidelined even before getting on the pitch when he suffered a nasty twisted ankle after tripping up the previous evening.

All proceeds from the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes go towards promoting the game at the junior level in Thailand.

The action continues daily from 9.00am until dusk with the finals on Saturday 4th April.  Entry to the delightful 111-year-old Chiengmai Gymkhana Club in the heart of the northern capital is free and a large variety of excellent food and drinks are available. If you cannot come then you can listen and watch online - for more information, check out www.chiangmaisixes.com.