The third match of the junior season saw the CMSCA side drawn from Mae On and Buak Kroc Noi School in Chiang Mai finally beat the more polished Lamphun team at the third time of asking as the enthiastic kids from CMSCA chased down a total of 93 to win by five wickets. The performance of their boys (and one girl) would have delighted coaches Martin and Puy Papworth and shows the value of perseverance and of course practice, while Chris Dodd will no doubt soon be laying down the law with his team as they prepare for a provincial tournament in Khon Kaen in January.
CMSCA have been steadily improving after being beaten by more than a hundred runs in the first match of the season. Lamphun again batted first and were restricted to 93 as they were bowled out inside the 25 overs on a bright Saturday morning at the new ground at Royals which is becoming a centre for junior cricket. Lamphun’s openers made a steady start with a partnership of 32 but the bowling of Yod and Hloo was impressive and both were rewarded with wickets.
Beer is also an experienced member of the Lamphun side and started with a pair of boundaries before being trapped lbw by Tee who has been practising hard and enjoyed himself at the recent Lanna Sixes. Ang has also benefited from regular net practice at Gymkhana and he bowled three of the lower order as he claimed four wickets for 12 in his 5 overs.
A comfortable position of 45 for one soon became 50 for six, then 65 for eight and even the late appearance of Cher at number 11 couldn’t repair the damage as he was caught by Yod off the bowling of Top, a powerful figure who has returned to cricket in recent weeks now he has discovered a friendly young team to play for.
The last nine wickets had fallen for 48 runs and the highest individual score was only 11 and the boys from CMSCA felt they had a chance of a famous victory if their batting performance could match the high level of their bowling. Daeng the captain wanted to lead by example and tried to rein in his attacking instincts before pinpointing short fine leg but Hloo and Tee did very well to see off the new ball with some resolute play.
The total reached 37 for one after 10 overs but a flurry of wickets kept Lamphun in the match before Min launched a stunning counter-attack as he hit three fours and the only six of the day in an innings of 18 and Yod batted very sensibly to make an equally valuable unbeaten 7 from 26 balls. This enabled Jun, who had tried his hand at wicket-keeping to give others the chance to bowl, to show his growing maturity by making a measured 17* and the winning boundary led to great celebrations.
The long ride back to the city in a red taxi gave an insight into the young team’s recipe for success: a reward of barbecue chicken that was well deserved given the hours of practice they have been put in at the nets in Gymkhana and at Mae On. The boys have recently been joining in with the adults at Lanna nets which again paid dividends the next day as Jun, Yod and Min played in the Senior League match.
These boys are very much part of the Lanna club with its culture of support for junior cricket coached as they are by chief organiser Martin Papworth and his wife head scorer Puy. It is also a delight to report that daughter Pin has also been practising hard and will soon be ready for a place in the team alongside Ploy who as well as doing her best on the field is showing great promise as a scorer.
These junior cricketers, the enthusiasm they show during matches and the effort they put in at net practice are something all Lanna members can be very proud of and of course learn a lot from. The best of the juniors, with Bunchuai, Cher and Chanchai restored to the side will form a formidable Lanna Juniors team and these junior league matches are an important step upwards in the development of younger players.