In a must win game for Pattaya Cricket Club last weekend, the ‘Stallions’ produced a superb all round performance to maintain their challenge for a top four finish with a tenacious victory over the much fancied AIT Elite at the Thailand Cricket Ground.
Heavy, unseasonal, overnight rain made the wicket green and damp and despite obviously offering considerable assistance to the bowlers, PCC won the toss and elected to bat.
John G and Leon Bouter soon realized batting would be difficult as the bowlers seamed and swung the ball alarmingly but they grafted manfully before John G pulled a short ball straight to mid wicket. Deb Mondal, making his debut, chipped his second delivery back to the bowler with the score on 29 and Leon unsurprisingly ran himself out 2 runs later.
Pattaya Cricket Club’s Sunny Hanif, right, receives his Man of the Match award after his fine all round display against AIT Elite.
Once again this season the captain Simon Philbrook and Sunny were at the crease to attempt a counter attack. It was not pretty, but effective, as the pair ground out a 90 run partnership on a wicket that as it dried out seemed to be deteriorating.
Simon departed for 40, stumped missing an arm ball, and to the delight of the opposition the all too fragile tail was now strolling to the wicket. However, remembering the scathing pre-match team talk their stroll expressed an assured determination to wag. And wag it did with most batsmen reaching double figures, which helped Sunny reach his half century (55 not out) and PCC posting a target of 190 runs from their 40 overs.
All the AIT Elite bowlers had respectable figures with the wickets being shared amongst them.
AIT Elite started positively as Sushir and Anil raced to 52 before Sushir was spectacularly caught by Simon at mid wicket. That set the tone for what was to be a superb bowling and fielding display. Leon, brought on early to stem the run flow, bowled with spin and guile to claim the wickets of Anil and the dangerous Murali. When he had finished his marathon 8 over spell he had impressive figures of 2 for 13 and promptly left the field for a sit down and reminisces of yesteryear.
At the other end Deb bowled his mixture of off cutters and seam up to claim 2 middle order scalps and AIT Elite were reduced to 65 for 5. Sunny and Usman maintained the pressure, but the score was creeping up as Ashish, 31, and Ashraful, 28, continued to ride their luck.
At 164 for 7 and a run rate of 7 an over required cool heads were called for. They came in the form of Andy Emery and Yogesh. Andy, coming back from injury, bowled fast and straight and claimed the much needed wicket of Ashish. But, it was the 14 year old Yogesh, making his first team debut, who stole the plaudits with a 3 over spell at the death that belied his years. Asked to bowl full, straight and fast he responded magnificently by giving the batsmen no opportunity to hit boundaries and he strangled the innings (171 for 9) to close out the victory that PCC badly needed.
Yogesh’s performance brought great delight to everyone in the team, especially to those involved in the coaching and bodes well for other juniors wanting to break into the first team.
Sunny deservedly was presented the man of the match award and PCC look forward to their next game on Sunday 6th March against Birla-ICC in Bangkok.
