Thailand’s women cricketers have made the headlines with their outstanding performances in the ACC Women’s Championship staged in Chiang Mai recently but a rest day in the Women’s Championship allowed the annual fixture between Gymkhana Club and British Club to take place. The match between the two famous clubs was first held over 30 years ago and is an important part of the fixture list as the Dick Wood Cup is contested between the two sides.
Such was the interest that a two-innings match involving a multitude of players was staged starting at 10.30 in the morning . Gymkhana batted first and got off to a flier thanks to Richard Cowles who hit a blistering 44 before retiring and Ryan Sherman made 20 in a total of 141 for 8 from 20 overs.
British Club’s reply was soon in ruins as leg-spinner Anim who has been taking wickets for the Gymkhana Juniors had three victims in his first over before finishing with figures of 5 for 29 but British Club did well to cut the first innings deficit to only eight runs as they reached 133 for eight.
Gymkhana Club brought in several new faces for the second innings and made changes in their batting order while British Club preferred a rotation policy with 14 players taking some part in each innings. Jon Danby and Shaffi were promoted to open and provided a steady start, Tanvir and Tim Woolls then both made 20s, but it was Liam Woolls who provided the fireworks in an imposing total of 180 for 4.
Liam had caused much amusement when batting at number 10 in the first innings by ambling in without pads and making five singles but he was fully padded up in the second innings and hit three consecutive sixes to reach 44. Martin Papworth was determined to match his six-hitting exploits and he did make six with a four and two singles.
British Club were thus set a target of 189 allowing plenty of Gymkhana’s mystery bowlers to have a chance but it was Jon Danby who stole the show. Last year he took five wickets in an innings for the first time in the match against British Club and this year he repeated the feat and improved his career best figures to 5 for 6.
British Club finished on 111 for 8 to concede defeat by 77 runs but countless players had been involved on the field with several notable guests who had been officiating in the Women’s Championship, and it was also greatly appreciated that we had a full cast of umpires and scorers. The cases of beer and bottles of vodka that were consumed happily by the two teams suggested the fixture would continue for many more years.