Pattaya Cricket Club, affiliated with the Pattaya Sports Club, hosted an internal friendly 25 over game of cricket for all its playing members of all ages and abilities on Sunday, Dec. 7.
The playing surface at the Thai Polo Ground was in magnificent condition despite the recent downpours that threatened during the week and with 20 fit, able and willing players available for selection the two captains for the day, Simon Philbrook and John Speirs, heatedly selected their teams. After much debate and a toss that Simon won, Simon’s team elected to bat first.
After a bright start from Paul Hack (18) and dim start from Dan (5), Simon’s side progressed serenely. Despite losing wickets regularly in the fast format of the game, which in reality was being played at a pedestrian pace, the score progressed to 68/5 at drinks after 15 overs. A PCC club record was established when the young David Scott (age 69) was joined at the crease by the slightly older Roger (age 72), to eclipse the previous highest combined batting age (128 years) by a comfortable 13 years. Running between the wickets was reduced to a gentle amble and as wickets kept tumbling, eventually a target of 95 was posted to win.
John sent his big guns, Venky and Ragu, in early for a fast start. Then a quite remarkable sequence of events began to unfold. The opening bowlers Thomas and Dan found the outside edges of Ragu (4), Venky (8) and Khalid (10) and all three were caught at first slip by Simon. It was made all the more remarkable by the fact that all three were held at the first attempt and Venky’s was held at full stretch low to Simon’s left.
Not finished with that, Simon then clean bowled a despondent Salman (17) and a calamitous Richard Grunwell (8). Bernard (16) launched the hapless, dejected and forlorn Lord Richard Harvey over long on for a maximum to relieve the increasing pressure, leaving a tense finish of 11 runs needed from the remaining 5 overs but with only one wicket remaining. The anchor himself John Speirs (6 no) guided his side home, ably supported by Andy Schofield (11 no).
It was a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable day for everyone, except RH, with new faces meeting old ones and old bodies with young minds feeling young but sore. The final two hours of the sun drenched afternoon was spent reminiscing of days gone by, accompanied by a few ice cold beers of course.
Note: PCC welcome anyone to participate, either as a player, official or supporter regardless of age and ability and encourage everyone to visit the club website www.pattayacricketclub.com or club Facebook page.
