The regular Gymkhana friendly followed a familiar course as CMCC posted a good total thanks to fifties from Tanveer and Aasif who have both been in good form this season. A total of 205 for 4 in 25 overs looks impressive but CMCC had been held back by some impressive bowling from the mercurial JD who arrived from Chiang Rai and produced two wicket maidens as he finished with outstanding figures of two for 11.
Fellow ex-Parrot Michael Holt also started well with an early wicket as CMCC were reduced to 87 for 4 in the 16th over but the floodgates opened towards the end of the innings as Tanveer and Aasif posted their fifties and shared a partnership of 118 in just 9 overs.
Taran deserves great credit for recording this torrent of runs after suffering a broken arm when jumping on and falling straight off a bicycle and the scoring duties in the second innings were shared by captain Richard Cowles and chairman Tom Salusbury while Taran was taken to hospital.
With such drama off the field and the scoring and umpiring duties being shared around by Lanna players, not to forget Tom also providing the tea, the result of the match was secondary, and it was good to be able to note that several new players were taking part for Lanna.
No fewer than nine batsmen reached double figures with young Tom, Martin Peters and Lyndsay looking good with the bat and CMCC played their part by trying out ten bowlers with ‘Uncle’ even having a bowl. Burhan and Basharat both took two wickets as Lanna finished on 178 for 7 in 25 overs.
CMCC won by 27 runs and Taran returned from hospital with a plaster cast on his left arm. Taran’s injury will restrict his umpiring but will allow him to concentrate on scoring in the lead-up to the Chiang Mai Sixes. Lanna players reflected on an eventful day over a few beers at the bar with the proceeds all going to support junior cricket.