Daniel Lawson made history for Chiang Mai Lanna Cricket Club by taking the first ever hat-trick for the club that was only officially formed little more than year ago. His efforts also included four wickets in an over and figures of 5 for 17 as opponents Chiang Mai Cricket Club were dismissed for 155 as some competitive cricket was played on a grass pitch at Gymkhana Club.
The regular Sunday match had been brought forward a day so that Gymkhana could hold a golf competition. Children from local Buak Croc Noi School had been put through their paces in the nets in the morning and the two adult teams who played in the afternoon again both included young Thai players who will be playing for Lanna Juniors in the Chiang Mai Senior League.
16-year-old Cher made an immediate impact by trapping Ubaid lbw in the first over as CMCC batted first and he also dismissed Wani as CMCC were reduced to 15 for 2. Ismail again batted with great care and Chanchai rode his luck to score 28 and share a fourth-wicket partnership of 68 before he was deceived by Bunchuai’s leg-spin.
Ismail began to go for his shots and passed fifty with a sequence of four boundaries in five balls but his innings was ended by Daniel brought back for a second spell who had him caught behind for 58. Borhan hit two sixes and a four in his 21 but Daniel’s heroics with the ball brought a rapid end to the innings as the last five wickets fell for four runs.
Chiang Mai Lanna needed 156 in 25 overs for victory and openers Jason Bray and that man Daniel were were called upon to provide a steady start and they dealt with a diet of medium pace with great determination. The score had reached 47 for no wicket after 12 overs at drinks when they were persuaded that a change of gear was required.
The fifty partnership was completed with a wide and Daniel hit a lofted drive towards the extra-cover boundary but was run out by Ubaid as he tried to complete a second run. CMCC then turned to spin and the wickets fell at regular intervals as the run-rate required soon reached 10 runs an over.
Ubaid claimed four wickets for nine runs with his left-arm spin and his dismissal of Jason for 32 ended Lanna’s hopes of victory. Wani had figures of 2 for 23, Chanchai took a wicket with his first ball and Khurram finished the innings with two wickets in his only over.
Chiang Mai Lanna were bowled out for 99 and CMCC gained victory by 56 runs. Ismail’s contribution had proved crucial but it was Daniel who had provided the most memorable performance of the day.
Not content with taking a hat-trick and four wickets in an over to complete figures of 5 for 17, he had even made a painstaking 10 and shared an opening partnership of 51, and the day came to a close with a few friendly beers on the terrace at Gymkhana Club.
Daniel even bought a round on the understanding that buying beers for a good performance was included in the Lanna code of conduct.