Pattaya Cricket Club hosted Superboys-Amphawa at the glorious Thai Polo Ground in the latest round of league games last Sunday.
On a very windy afternoon PCC won the toss and elected to bat first in the 25 over format and despite losing Dan Nicholson (0) caught at slip from only the second ball of the innings, the batsmen applied themselves to build a solid, if unspectacular, platform. Manek (15) and Captain Simon Philbrook (15) supported the in-form Venky (70) whose strokeplay was the linchpin of the innings. Paul Hack (19no) and Sam Nethery (10no) ensured PCC recorded a competitive but possibly under par total of 144/6.
PCC opening bowlers Peter Bass and Andy Emery were exemplary in line and length and the SA batsmen found early runs hard to come by. The pressure began to mount as did the required run rate when David Scott and Raj Kumar replaced the openers. Sam Nethery and Bernard Lamprecht were very lively with their pace and bounce and after 15 overs SA were a distant 45/3.
Needing exactly 100 runs from the final 10 overs a more aggressive approach was necessary. Suddenly boundaries began to flow and with the assistance of some dropped catches in the very blustery conditions SA closed in on the target. Andy Emery, the go to death bowler, bowled the final over with 10 runs required for victory. A wicket off the first ball, surprisingly caught in the deep by Bernard, put PCC in control. Full and straight deliveries could only be hit down the ground for twos and a run out off the final ball meant PCC clinched a 2 run victory that ensured they remained top of the league.
A delighted Venky was rightly awarded the man of the match trophy.
PCC would like to thank the support of Shenanigans By The Lake and the PSC and encourage anyone wishing to get involved to contact the club through the website www.pattayacricketclub.com or visit the Facebook page.
