The cricket season in Chiang Mai is getting into full swing as for the second week in a row a very closely contested match was played out at Gymkhana with all 22 players, a mixture of Lanna Seniors and Juniors, playing a full part on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Gymkhana Club. Lanna A defended a total of 137 for 8 to win by 10 runs but the contest was an intriguing one throughout with the two sides evenly matched for 24 overs of each innings.
It was the head to head battle between the two captains in the last over of Lanna A’s innings that proved decisive and showed the narrow margin between success and failure. Delighted to have restricted a strong batting line up to 120 for 8 and with young Bunchuai returning outstanding figures of 4 for 22, Lanna B captain Richard Lockwood took the ball himself but conceded 17 runs in the over, despite being agonizingly close to taking the wicket of his opposite number, Pete Warner, who instead could celebrate hitting a six as the ball just went over the outstretched fingers of the long-on fielder.
A target of 138 in 25 overs was still well within reach even though Hugh Williams was dismissed for a duck. Daniel Lawson was pushing the singles while Martin Papworth went for his shots. The second-wicket pair could only hit one boundary between them and the running between the wickets on a hot afternoon began to take its toll.
Papworth was run out after picking up an unfortunate foot injury, while Daniel was tiring and could only spoon up the first ball after drinks to the wicket-keeper as he tried to hit out. His team had still been in a winning position at 45 for 2 with 13 overs left and the rate never got out of hand even though Wani was dismissed after hitting a sixe. Bunchuai hit the ball into the gaps to make 26 and Jason Bray hit a six over extra-cover as 18 runs came off leg-spinner Hamish Weir’s first over.
Wides provided no fewer than 29 runs during the innings and only 31 were needed from the last four overs before Martin Cardno bowled a pair of tight overs and claimed the wicket of Bunchuai and Hamish Weir held his nerve in the last over with 18 runs needed. Chanchai and Cher tried to hit out but could not match the memorable six hit by Pete Warner earlier in the day.
Losing captain Locky would console himself by reflecting on the enjoyable day had by all and the support that CMLCC are giving to a talented crop of junior Thai cricketers. Jun and Bunchuai had both batted and bowled well, Chanchai, Cher and Beer had a good bowl, and Taran Persad, somewhat older but just as enthusiastic, had shown that he hadn’t lost his magic as he claimed two important wickets in his five-over spell.