The Chiang Mai Senior League got underway at Gymkhana Club on Sunday 17th November as Chiang Mai Cricket Club took on the juniors from CPP at Doi Saket and it was CMCC who came out on top as they defeated last year’s champions by 120 runs.
CMCC were lacking some of their better players with Maki away in Pakistan and Asif in India and there were concerns over the fitness of Ismail who had been advised that his back injury required rest, but the club who did not take part in the league last year still proved more than a match for the juniors even though two of their side had already played for Thailand.
CMCC won the toss and elected to bat and the loss of an early wicket brought Ismail to the crease to join Ubaid and these two soon settled in to serve up a batting master-class for the junior side as they shared a century partnership for the second wicket. Ismail was looking to conserve his energy at all times but bearded left-hander Ubaid was in full flow.
Eddy and Petch had bowled well with the new ball but the run-rate was soon above six an over as Ubaid hit 5 sixes and 8 fours in his innings of 89. Ismail finally lost patience to be caught at long on off the bowling of Yon for 36 but the platform had been laid for a big score. Wani made 25 and although Yon claimed four wickets with his off-spin CMCC finished with a formidable total of 206 for 8 in their 30 overs.
CPP needed to score at almost seven runs an over to win and this proved an impossible task against a strong pace bowling attack. Opener John batted resolutely from 23 but the rest of the batting line up struggled to get the ball away as only two fours and one six were hit in the entire innings.
Suhail had figures of 2 for 18, while Sajeel finished with 3 for 10 and in the final stages Wani came from behind the stumps to take two wickets with his off-spin as CPP were dismissed for just 86.
CMCC will provide strong opposition in this league but the boys from CPP will have benefited greatly from watching some quality batting from Ubaid and Ismail and from facing a strong seam attack.
The second match in the league sees Floggers & Robbers take on Lanna Juniors on Sunday 24th November at Gymkhana Club.