Last Saturday’s match between Chiang Mai Lanna CC and Lanna Juniors at Prem Oval had proved to be such an enjoyable occasion that it was decided to do it all again and give the senior team a chance to make up for their heavy defeat the previous week.
A much stronger Lanna side was selected but once more it was a day to remember for junior cricket as 18-year-old Bunchuai made his first century and the highest score ever made by a junior in any level of cricket in Chiang Mai.
The senior side again batted first and gave a much better account of themselves thanks to a new opening combination of Richard Cowles who hit six fours and two sixes in his innings of 42 and Chris Teague, a newcomer who had looked good at Gymkhana nets the previous day and had been practising hard before the game.
All that effort and a warm day at Prem finally proved too much for him as he was forced to retire on 19 but he had contributed to a good start for Lanna and Gary Chatfield then hit the ball hard in a brief stay before Bunchuai held a brilliant reaction catch at short cover.
There were other cameo innings from Paul Johnson and Wani who had again changed teams in his search for cricket as the younger bowlers from Lamphun enjoyed their chance to bowl against the men.
Wickets kept falling so it was impoertant that Jason Bray batted solidly for an unbeaten 25 and there were also 39 extras as the novice bowlers struggled with their line and length.
A total of 176 for 8 in 25 overs looked an impressive one particularly when Paul Johnson bowled with the same hostility as his namesake Mitchell and also took a catch to dismiss Chanchai after dropping him the previous week. He bowled Lang and Cher with consecutive balls and the juniors were soon 22 for 3 and in trouble with two of their best players already out.
But Bunchuai was playing calmly and waiting for the bad ball. Captain Pete Warner then took off the opening bowlers after three overs apiece, Paul Johnson because he had looked so dangerous and Martin Papworth because he had conceded three boundaries in his third over.
Wani and Eddie bowled accurate spells with Wani picking up two wickets and almost unnoticed Bunchuai had reached his fifty as he managed to take most of the strike.
At 72 for 4 after 16 overs the stage was set for birthday boy Locky to produce a match-winning spell which he was convinced would follow after successfully completing his first fifty (in years not runs). He soon found a respectable line outside off stump but Bunchuai made the fielders look like statues as he hit a succession of boundaries and to the bowler’s shock his spell was confined to a single over.
The lower-order did their best to stay with their captain showing good defence but they weren’t able to contribute many runs so the juniors were always just behind the required run-rate. Happily for the juniors and for all involved in Lanna cricket, Bunchuai completed his hundred and went on to record an unbeaten 114 as Locky was finally given another over and completed Lanna’s victory with a dot ball.
The senior team had defeated the Lanna Juniors by 23 runs as they finished on 153 for 6 but everybody who has pledged support for junior cricket should be proud of Bunchuai’s outstanding performance as he hit 114 out of the 125 runs which came off the bat.
Lanna Chairman David Holt had provided seven dozen assorted rolls which were quickly consumed mostly by the boys, and several older players stayed long into the evening to drink their beers in the darkness and reflect on a memorable day for Bunchuai and for junior cricket.