The third match to be played in the Chiang Mai Senior League saw the meeting between two teams who had both enjoyed impressive victories in their opening games, Chiang Mai Cricket Club had beaten CPP by over 100 runs in the first match of the season but then Lanna Juniors had defeated Floggers & Robbers by an even bigger margin to go ahead of the adult side on net run-rate.
The two teams met at Prem Oval at the end of a busy week of cricket which had seen the highly successful visit of a schools side from Hong Kong to Chiang Mai which is hoped to be the first of many such tours to such a visitor-friendly city.
The match was a well-contested encounter with Lanna Juniors surprising a very strong batting line-up by bowling them out inside 30 overs but a target of 205 proved too many for the junior side after captain Bunchuai had been dismissed early in their innings as CMCC went back to the top of the league with their second win in two matches.
After winning the toss and electing to field first, the Lanna Juniors team were all looking splendid in their new shirts and caps which had been presented to them by Chiang Mai Lanna CC chairman David Holt as the club had generously decided to finance all the team’s league costs as part of Lanna’s support for the development of junior cricket in Chiang Mai.
CMCC had been able to choose a very strong batting side and were looking to post a very large total in the high-scoring conditions at Prem, but Cher as usual produced a good opening spell and bowled classy left-hander Ubaid for 21. Wani was dismissed for 10 without having got going and CMCC were in shock when Ismail, the best bat of all, was caught by Chanchai off the bowling of Beer for just 13.
The aggressive Asif hit a six and a four but was very well caught by Bunchuai off Lang for 10, and Bunchuai then had Zeeshan, another fine batsman who has just returned from Pakistan, lbw for nought with his leg-spin. CMCC were in trouble on 110 for five and worse was to follow as Lang took his third wicket as opener Umar was stumped by Champ for a dependable 42 and Shaffi became the second batsman dismissed without scoring as he also fell lbw to Bunchuai.
At 124 for 7 CMCC were in danger of being bowled out for a much lower score than expected but captain Makki is a combative character and seemed to have recovered from his back injury as he hit three fours and a six in an innings of 37 from just 28 balls and Burhan gave him good support in a valuable stand of 52 for the eighth wicket.
Chanchai finally broke the partnership and Cher came back to take his second wicket and the innings was completed for 204 in 29.2 overs as Burhan was run out for a useful 27. Cher had excellent figures of 2 for 19, and Lang is a newcomer who seems to have the knack for taking wickets as he took 3 for 29.
It was quite an achievement for the boys to have reduced CMCC to 124 for 7 and to have bowled them out inside 30 overs, but 204 was still a formidable total and Lanna Juniors would need Bunchuai to maintain his rich vein of form that had seen him make a century and fifty in the same weekend. Sadly for him it was not to be and he was bowled by Asif for just 3.
Formot is a highly talented junior cricketer from Mae On but has been rather overlooked by the Chiang Mai provincial side now centred on schools in Doi Saket, but he showed that given a chance to play he still has considerable ability with the bat. He hit eight fours with some quality strokeplay as he made an elegant 39, and Choo, who is enjoying a second chance to play cricket now he is working, also did well to make 19 against the new ball.
Chanchai had made runs while playing with CMCC in friendly matches earlier in the season but he was bowled by Zeeshan for 9 and Cher can also hit out well but he was run out for 6. The best of the boys are inexperienced at this level as Makki claimed three wickets with his left-arm spin, so it was left to 13-year-old Nok to impress with her batting as she made an unbeaten 12 and ensured that Lanna Juniors made it into the last over of their innings before the last wicket fell from the penultimate ball.
Lanna Juniors can be pleased with a total of 141 against a strong adult side even if it was bolstered by 42 extras and, given their bowlers had reduced CMCC to 124 for 7, the gap between the two sides could have been much less than the final margin of 63 runs.
The Lanna Juniors team are improving fast which shows that the support from the Lanna senior side is well-merited for a talented group of boys (and girls). Junior cricket is also being played at lower levels with children from across the provinces of Chiang Mai and Lamphun involved in CMSCA’s highly competitive under-16 league as was shown by young Jo taking a hat-trick for Mae-On in the first match.
It is good to report that the Chiang Mai Schools Cricket Alliance is going forward under new management with the coaches to the fore. As well as coaching children in schools in Chiang Mai and Lamphun and providing the Under-16 league, a recent initiative has been beginners’ matches being staged at Gymkhana Club with children playing softball cricket but wearing full protection and using a harder ball. Junior cricket is played in the mornings before most adult matches.
The CMSCA would like to thank Chiang Mai Lanna CC, both its players and its sponsors, for providing such generous support for junior cricket and helping make up for reduced funding from Cricket Association of Thailand. It is hoped that standards of junior cricket in two provinces will continue to flourish so that the children, boys and girls, are well prepared for representing their province and their country.