Players and spectators who arrived at Gymkhana Club on the Sunday before Christmas expecting a friendly encounter between two sides drawn from Chiang Mai Lanna Cricket Club were in for a festive surprise when they discovered that a contest against the Thailand women’s side had been arranged.
Eddie Joyner, a member of Chiang Mai Lanna CC, was coach of the Thailand men’s side during the ACC Trophy Challenge held in Chiang Mai in December, and his next assignment is to coach the women’s cricket team who will be involved in the ACC Women’s Championship that will be staged here at the end of January.
Eddie was planning to hold a training session at Gymkhana for the women’s team and he was only too happy to take up the offer of a match against Chiang Mai Lanna with the club committed to give opportunities to young Thai cricketers, whether they be male or female.
Thailand women’s cricket is extremely strong with the team often reaching the final stages of Asian Cricket Council tournaments whether junior or senior although the final victory has proved elusive. It was hoped that this match against the men would prove an important step in the girls’ quest to go one better in next month’s competition.
The 25-over contest proved an even and enjoyable encounter with the girls showing off their considerable skills but Chiang Mai Lanna recorded a 19-run victory by virtue of outstanding performances from Tim Woolls with the bat and Ryan Sherman with the ball.
It had been agreed beforehand that Chiang Mai Lanna would bat first and the innings was opened by Nikom Mayer and John Darling, a classic blend of youth and experience, but Nikom fell victim to an impetuous shot to be well caught by Noi, Thailand’s captain, at deep mid-off and Nick Kirby soon followed as Lanna were reduced to 22 for two.
Tim Woolls has been a man in form with two unbeaten fifties so far this season and he continued in similar vein with nine fours and two sixes in his 55 before retiring. John Darling batted steadily to make 28 from 43 balls but it was only some sensible batting by wicket-keeper Bonchooai and captain Peter Warner that took the total to 148 for five.
The girls had bowled tidily with a nice mixture of medium pace and spin and coach Eddie was pleased that they only gave away 10 wides despite some rigorous guidelines for the umpires with the international tournament coming up.
Thailand’s women then got off to a great start to their innings as they reached 39 for no wicket after the first five overs as Noi hit four boundaries from the friendly offerings provided by Tom Salusbury and Martin Papworth, the latter perhaps tired out by his long stint as umpire.
The situation soon changed with the introduction of the left-arm spin of Ryan Sherman who started with a wide but claimed the wicket of May with his third legal ball caught athletically in the covers by Daniel Lawson. Lawson surprised his team-mates with a second exceptional catch as Noi was dismissed for 22 off the bowling of Jon Danby who had travelled overnight on the train from Bangkok.
Ryan Sherman finished with figures of four for eight in his five overs as the girls slipped to 54 for five and after Danby had dismissed Fon for 15, young Nikom Mayer claimed two wickets with his medium pace to leave the score on 76 for eight.
The innings was revived by Poom who made an unbeaten 34 and shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 51 with Oi which was only ended from the penultimate ball of the innings. Tiny reserve wicket-keeper Min was allowed to face the final delivery which she struck for two and the girls’ final total was a respectable 129 for 9.
If the Thailand team can bowl as accurately as they did against the men and manage to post totals well over the hundred mark they will be a difficult team to beat in the Women’s Championship which will be underway in a month’s time.
Chiang Mai Lanna members wearing their brand new shirts could reflect on another successful day in the club’s young history as they enjoyed bottles of beer and snacks produced by enthusiastic chairman David Holt and his wife Kampirada. The Spirit of Cricket lives on.
Season’s greetings for Christmas and the New Year from Chiang Mai Lanna CC.
Scores
Chiang Mai Lanna 148 for 5 (25 overs) (Tim Woolls 55, John Darling 28, Peter Warner 20; Oi 2 for 27)
Thailand Women 129 for 9 (25 overs) (Poom 34, Noi 22; Ryan Sherman 4 for 8, Nikom Mayer 2 for 16, Jon Danby 2 for 17)
Chaing Mai Lanna won by 19 runs