Justin Moseley �" Chiang Mai

Thai Thevada knock Drifters for six

The third day of the San Miguel Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes saw the beginning of the second rounds, which determine the trophy each team will compete for, namely the Cup, Bowl, Shield, Plate or Spoon.

The day’s first game produced a Chinese victory as the Shanghai Hot Dogs narrowly defeated the local Thai Thevada. The first match of the tournament for the Perth Postels resulted in a comfortable win for them over the Southerners.

Cheered by their victory over Cup holders the Surrey Vagrants, the Irish Pub batted first against the Drifters and swift running between the stumps and wide balls produced a tally of 86 to beat. An even higher score was probably staunched by good catching from Drifters’ Martin Papworth and by Tubby Jenner giving a display of tight bowling after a remarkable recovery from his pre-tournament injury. In their response the Drifters just could not find the boundary enough and good bowling ensured the Irish kept their unbeaten record. 

The local team Gymkhana Cavaliers protected their innings score of only 50 very well against the Stuffed Beavers with some great fielding as they took 4 wickets. The final game of Round 1 of the Spoon was between Ios Malakas and the Wombats, whose traditional loss-seeking policy was in tatters after a fine array of sixes and 30 not out from Galvin Bodie, giving a total of 77 which is a fine score for the Spoon competition.  The Wombats followed with some spirited (or possibly spirit-induced) fielding as the Ios Malakas tried hard in their 55-run response.

As the Sixes moved into its second phase the Surrey Vagrants easily disposed of the Yorkshire Puddings in the Shield competition, the Tokyo Wombats beat the Southerners, and in an exciting game the Armadillos just held on to stop the Floggers & Robbers from winning.  The beginning of the Bowl competition saw Darjeeling defend their score of 59 from a determined Yarrambat and the Darwin Dilettantes beat the Awali Taverners.

Much early evening excitement was provided in the game between the local Thai Thevada and the Drifters.  The Drifters were held to scoring only 59, the highlight of which being when Thai Thevada’s Chai bowled out former Sri Lankan Test cricketer Lantra Fernando.  The Thai Thevada lads responded magnificently with several boundaries, and when 5 was needed to win Tong whacked a six to make sure of the victory �" the faces of the happy lads as they came off the field were an inspiring end to the men’s cricket of the day. 

The global appeal of the Sixes is being shown by the number of daily hits on the website, and listeners and viewers have been identified from the UK, Perth in Australia, the USA, and even from remote Ulan Bator in Mongolia.

Today’s play commences with a 9.00am Cup encounter between two of the favourites for ultimate victory, the Gloucestershire Gipsies and the Perth Postels and there follows at 4.00pm a potentially equally entertaining contest between the two other probable contenders, the Irish Pub and the Bashundhara Cricketeers - for more information, check out www.chiangmaisixes.com.