Chiang Mai’s cricketers enjoyed their Christmas and New Year break and 2014 started in entertaining fashion as Lanna’s senior side played Lanna Juniors in a friendly at Gymkhana Club. Lanna now have an impressive list of members as they play an enjoyable brand of social cricket but in the absence of the in-form pair of Chatfield and Cardno, Lanna’s adult side were beaten by five wickets as the Juniors chased down a target of 188 on a day when the batting was generally much better than the bowling.
Lanna Seniors looked to have posted an imposing total of 187 for 6 as Jason Bray hit strongly through the off-side as he reached fifty in 45 balls with eight fours. Richard Cowles and Wani Basharat played their usual entertaining cameos but giant newcomer Neil Whitehead took his time as he struggled against the short ball but hit massively when the ball was pitched up as he struck 3 fours and 3 sixes in an innings of 41.
Chanchai was the best of the bowlers as he conceded only 20 from his five overs but Jo claimed three wickets late in the innings to keep the Lanna total under 200. The men were confident that they had done enough for a comfortable victory but the boys are improving fast with the bat and were undaunted by the target or by the quality of the bowling.
Bunchuai had scored a century the last time he had faced Lanna’s bowling but he his team-mates hadn’t been able to give him the necessary support. The young captain again looked comfortable against some wayward bowling as he reached fifty in 34 balls but this time his team-mates backed him up superbly.
Choo shared in an opening partnership of 72 in less than 9 overs and after Bunchuai had retired, Cher and Chanchai both went for their shots as the boys maintained a rate of nine runs an over. Martin Papworth briefly found a good line and length with his out-swing but even the reliable Eddie Joyner was hit to all corners.
Nithi raced in to bowl as fast as he could but his lack of practice with the ball saw a sequence of head high full tosses which the boys were able to guide to the boundary. Cher was required to retire on reaching his first fifty in senior cricket and suddenly a change of pace saw a dramatic late collapse.
Taran Persaud bowled his gentle off-spin wide of off-stump and claimed four wickets all stumped by Richard Cowles as the boys tried to end the match with big hits. Chanchai had played some lovely shots so his wild swing brought a disappointing end to a fine innings of 40. Formot, Boom and Champ made only one run between them, but Leng and Frong scrambled the winning runs as Lanna Juniors won by five wickets.
Taran took three wickets in an over and finished with figures of 4 for 17 as he showed the virtue of taking the pace off the ball but it came too late for the senior Lanna team. Much of the bowling they faced was poor but it was good to see three such confident innings from talented juniors, Cher and Chanchai giving fine support to the ever-dependable Bunchuai.
The three boys will now be pressing for promotion to the senior side when they take on Chiang Mai Cricket Club in the next league match.