Pattaya Cricket club visited Bangkok Cricket Club in the T20 league with a weakened side last Sunday at the Thai Cricket Ground.
PCC lost the toss and were asked to bowl on a dampish, green wicket that promised rewards for the seamers early on. And so it proved as Usman (1 for 23) and Yasir (1 for21) bowled a challenging off stump line and each snared a wicket to reduce BCC to 19 for 2 from the opening 4 overs. The PCC bowlers continued a tight bowling line and at the half way stage BCC had reached a respectable 67 for 2.
Whatever was in the drinks that were given to the not out batsmen certainly worked as almost immediately after the break Anwar and Vishal began dispatching the ball to all parts. It has to be said that the PCC bowling became somewhat ragged and the fielding left rather a lot to be desired, with two straight forward chances being spilled, but the hitting was relentless as the score raced past 100 in the 14th over.
Both batsmen reached their half centuries and continued to plunder the bowling as 77 runs were scored in the last 5 overs. Anwar’s 66 ball hundred (110 not out) included only 3 fours but an incredible 8 sixes, 4 of which came off consecutive balls from Shan, on a ground with 70 meter boundaries.
Vishal played the perfect anchor man role and finished with a well crafted 60 not out to see BCC to a daunting 181 for 2. PCC bowlers Shan, Mithu and Salman had combined figures of 10 overs, no wickets for 118 runs. All finished with stiff necks after watching the ball fly at great velocity over long off and long on.
Somewhat shell shocked PCC opened with Sunny and Yasir hoping for a fast start. 29 runs came from the first 4 overs before Yasir was bowled by Dinesh for 9. Usman promoted up the order continued the chase with a breezy 12. Sunny (32) and the captain Simon (29) kept the momentum of the innings going but with their departures and accurate bowling PCC lost their way and were eventually all out 116.
It was a crushing defeat for PCC and the loss of 3 regulars was a factor, but the incredible innings of Anwar was the difference.
