The team from Pattaya Cricket Club took part in its 3rd annual cricket tournament in Chiang Mai over the weekend Feb. 14-15 and very nearly brought home the trophy.
Proceedings began with the PCC squad acquainting themselves with the two Thai cricketers that the club sponsors, Thanchai and Cher, presenting the young duo with club shirts, shorts and caps.
Pattaya Cricket Club players pose with the Lanna C.C. team at the Gymkhana ground in Chiang Mai, Feb. 15.
Played at the Gymkhana ground, PCC faced pre tournament favourites United CC in their opening fixture. Electing to bat first the PCC openers Colin Clark and Dan Nicholson started in terrific fashion, finding the boundary regularly in an opening partnership of 73 before Colin was caught in the deep for 45. Dan maintained the innings momentum with a well timed 50 not out and finally PCC posted a challenging 146 for 5 from the allotted 15 overs.
The PCC bowlers were immaculate in their line and length and strangled the United CC batsmen. Pressure mounted and wickets fell regularly and eventually PCC ran out comfortable winners by 34 runs.
Patong CC proved an altogether different prospect in the next match. Batting first, Patong began circumspectly but did not panic and did not lose early wickets. The final 5 overs yielded 63 precious runs as a challenging total of 120 for 3 was posted.
PCC captain Simon Philbrook (6th right) presents club shirts, shorts and caps to sponsored cricketers Thanchai and Cher.
In reply, PCC batsmen found the boundaries hard to find in the face of some disciplined bowling and when John Speirs was struck on the back of the head and taken to hospital to have 4 stitches inserted, PCC were in trouble. With 34 needed from the final two overs it seemed a Patong win was inevitable. Paul Hack and Dan Nicholson very nearly pulled off the most unlikely of victories but ultimately Pattaya fell just 5 runs short.
The result meant that due to accumulated bonus points and Patong CC’s loss to United CC, the final fixture against Lanna CC on Sunday afternoon was in effect a final.
Pattaya won the toss against Lanna and chose to bat first. Openers Colin and Dan made a steady start but the innings really took off when Paul Hack (52no) was joined by PCC captain Simon Philbrook (44). The pair put on 97 in 39 balls that changed the context of the innings and PCC recorded another 146 runs to defend.
The Lanna CC opening batsmen began aggressively, forcing the PCC captain to alter the team bowling order but the runs kept flowing. Boonchai (50 no) and Martin (50 no) set the platform for the Lanna CC middle order to cruise to victory but PCC were in no mood to surrender cheaply. Tight bowling from John Speirs and Paul Hack meant Richard Holt had to bowl the final over with 4 runs still needed. A wicket with his first ball, a two from his second and a wicket with his third created havoc in the Lanna CC dressing room and a sense of optimism in the PCC camp. A dot next was followed by a desperate heave that flew off the outside edge for the two runs required.
It was an excellent finish to a tournament that was played in a marvelously competitive spirit throughout.
PCC’s final contribution to the weekend was the donation of a kit bag full of cricket equipment to the junior development programme and a cash donation towards junior expenses.
“It is fantastic to see Thai kids, both male and female, progress through the junior development programme in Chiang Mai and see them all playing the game properly. It is a pleasure for PCC to contribute in any way we can and I would like to applaud Thanchai and Cher for their excellent performances over the weekend,” commented Simon the PCC Chairman.
PCC would like to thank the Pattaya Sports Club for their support and encourage anyone to get involved via the club website: www. pattayacricketclub.com or visit the club Facebook page.
NB: For a further match report from Pattaya Cricket Club.
