Pattaya Cricket Club (PCC) played their opening Bangkok Premier League fixture at Horseshoe Point against local rivals Asian Stars CC last Saturday, December 4.
In front of a boisterous crowd PCC won the toss and elected to bowl first in cool but blustery conditions and the decision looked to have paid off as Lindon removed the first three ASCC batsmen with only 40 runs on the board.
The Pattaya Cricket Club team line up before the start of their match against Asian Stars Cricket Club at Horseshoe Point last weekend.
A strong middle order fight back, led by Ajay and Raja saw ASCC recover to 175 before Salman had Raja caught behind for a fluent 60. Imran continued the momentum and hit a powerful 52 as the PCC bowlers tired in the early afternoon heat. Ajay finally departed for a well crafted 79 and ASCC finished with a daunting 271 for 7 from their 40 overs.
The PCC openers failed again at the top of the order and it was left to Giles and the captain Simon Philbrook to repair the damage. Giles was in particularly belligerent mood as he raced to 44 before Raja nipped one back to remove his off stump. Dave Booton’s reassuring presence maintained the chase and after some smooth cover drives he mistimed one to be caught at mid-on for 28.
At the other end Simon Philbrook was calmly accumulating runs with some well placed cuts and pulls. Ajay and Raja bowled an immaculate line and length in the middle of the innings to strangle the run chase and it seemed they had done enough with 10 overs remaining and 106 runs still needed. However, Simon controlled the scoring and well supported by Hansie the scoring rate increased. Simon reached his hundred off 106 balls.
With 22 runs needed for victory from the last over again it seemed ASCC were in control of the result. But Simon hit a six and a four from the first two deliveries from Manoj and the crowd and trumpet player raised the volume even more. Chaos ensued as scores and umpires decisions were checked and double checked. A six was needed from the final ball and even though Simon hit it well it only went for a single as he ended up 133 not out and the team an agonizing 4 runs short of the target.
It was a fantastic finish to what was a memorable debut fixture in Thailand’s premier cricket league. The PCC captain was voted man of the match, but the game of cricket was the real winner.
PCC’s next league fixture is Sunday 12th December at Horseshoe Point starting at 10 a.m.
