One of the most exciting developments in the history of Thai cricket is getting ever closer as the Thailand women’s cricket team depart for Ireland in mid-July where they will be taking a giant step on to the world stage as they take part in the qualifying tournament for the next Women’s World Twenty20.
Thailand’s first opponent in the forthcoming competition will be Pakistan who will be preparing by playing One-Day Internationals and Twenty20s against England’s Women but the Thai girls have again been getting some valuable match practice against Chiang Mai Lanna CC at Gymkhana Club.
Last Sunday may prove an important day’s cricket for the Thailand team as they as they at last got to play in match conditions on a turf pitch after weeks of net practice on artificial surfaces.
It was also notable that the team selected by Chiang Mai Lanna included two promising boys from the Hill Tribe program, alongside the two least experienced of the women’s squad and 13-year-old Nok who had a day to remember which will surely see her join the senior women’s team in the near future.
Chiang Mai Lanna won the match comfortably by 59 runs as Richard Cowles and Basharat Wani both hit attractive fifties but the result was less important than the fact Thailand’s women had time in the middle against a strong side.
The weather in Chiang Mai had remained dry enough for a grass pitch to be prepared and this completely changed the character of the match from the close encounter two weeks before when the two teams had contested a tied match.
Lanna won the toss and chose to bat with captain Richard Cowles opening with young Thailand reserve wicket-keeper Min but her early dismissal only brought Basharat Wani to the crease who had made a powerful fifty in the previous match.
Cowles was the first to reach his half-century as he hit eight fours and two sixes before he generously retired at drinks after just 12 overs. Wani completed another fifty with six fours and three sixes before Thailand captain Noi gained revenge for conceding 23 in an over in the previous match by having him stumped.
Chris Coombes who was the leading run-scorer in the Chiang Mai Senior League was not on top form following the excitement of the British and Irish Lions’ victory over Australia the previous day as off-spinner Oi claimed three wickets for 17 but just as Lanna’s innings was declining young Cher showed he had potential as an all-rounder by scoring an unbeaten 26 with two fours and a six to take the total to 170 for 7 in 25 overs.
Although Thailand women had made 157 in the last match on the artificial surface, batting on grass is an entirely different exercise as they had to contend with more movement and much lower bounce.
Cher opened the bowling and impressed with a tidy spell as he moved the ball into the bat but it was 13-year-old Nok who caught the eye. She had bowled at the end of the innings in the first match and had claimed two wickets as Thailand women went for their shots.
Lanna captain Richard Cowles had seen what she could do so he had no hesitation in bringing her on first change and she responded magnificently by bowling both openers including the Thai captain. Bowling a tidy line with a hint of away swing Nok finished with two for 21 in her five overs and as she is also working hard on her batting she is a name to look out for in the future.
The Thailand women did find scoring runs more difficult than they had in the previous match as Adam Green also picked up two wickets but they showed good defensive technique as they reached a total of 111 for six in their 25 overs.
It was good to see Bunchuai who had given up the wicket-keeping duties to young Min get a chance to bowl his leg-breaks and the pair combined as Jean was stumped by Min to give Bunchuai a prized wicket.
These three young cricketers, along with several others on both sides, are all products of the junior coaching system in Chiang Mai which has now been extended to the neighbouring province of Lamphun, and several younger players were on the sidelines waiting for their chance to shine.
The future of cricket in Chiang Mai looks bright as the adults from three senior teams had combined with the juniors to provide Thailand women with a serious test before their tournament in Ireland.
Further matches will be played at Gymkhana Club if the rain holds off but as a heavy shower swept across the ground just after the last ball of the day was bowled, this may be the right time to wish Thailand well on what is sure to be the trip of a lifetime.