The Chiang Mai Senior League reached the halfway stage in exciting fashion as the two strongest teams in the league met at Gymkhana Club and Lanna defeated CMCC by two wickets in a competitive match played in good spirit by both sides.
Lanna had to do without the services of Gary Chatfield who had made a magnificent century in the last league match but they were able to call on three young Thai players, Bunchuai, Cher and Chanchai, who had been playing well for Lanna Juniors, but the team would face a stern test from a CMCC side who were unbeaten in all cricket so far in 2013/14.
CMCC won the toss and chose to bat first and Ubaid made a bright start by hitting two sixes and a four before he was dismissed by the fiery Paul Johnson for 21. Asif was then surprised by Johnson’s athleticism as he took a low catch at short third man off the bowling of Chanchai and the young Thai followed with the prize wicket of Ismail who was bowled for just one.
Jon Danby enjoys playing cricket so much he regularly catches the bus from Chiang Rai to turn out for Lanna and although he bowls much slower than the Australian Test attack he claimed two wickets in two balls as CMCC slipped to 61 for five. JD was within touching distance of a hat-trick but CMCC captain Makki survived and saw his team past 100 without further loss.
Amar proved a resolute opener and suddenly hit three fours in an over from the bowling of Cher who was proving more expensive than usual. The return of Johnson, as so often (whether Mitchell or Paul), brought about a wicket as Amar was lbw for 43 and Makki soon followed in the same fashion off the bowling of wily veteran Eddie Joyner.
CMCC were now 110 for 7 but there were more than 10 overs left in the innings and some more dangerous hitting to come but Shaffi was bowled by Johnson and Samran bowled by Joyner and CMCC were now nine wickets down for 116.
Johnson had finished his spell with the excellent figures of 3 for 28 and Suhail hit two precious boundaries as the last pair added 22 runs before Khurram was caught when he attempted a big hit off the bowling of the enthusiastic Nithi.
CMCC’s total of 138 was lower than they would have expected and they would have hoped to have batted out their 30 overs rather but their strong bowling attack would still make Lanna work hard for victory.
Both openers had made fifties in their previous innings, Jason Bray for the senior Lanna team and Bunchuai for the juniors, but the more experienced opener was trapped lbw by Shaffi without scoring as Lanna lost their first wicket with the total on just two.
Richard Cowles came in at number three and looked determined to play a long innings before he fell lbw to Makki’s left-arm spin for 10. Bunchuai was batting with great composure which allowed Martin Cardno to go for his shots. Looking slightly tentative in defence, his attacking shots were exemplary as he hit three fours and two towering sixes and it was a surprise when he was caught behind off Samran for 32 from just 19 balls.
Chanchai followed next ball as he was bowled by a yorker and when Bunchuai was caught at mid off for 26 from 46 balls, Lanna were 86 for five with 53 more runs still needed. Cher ran himself out for just two but Paul Johnson came in at number eight and immediately hit a four and two sixes to bring Lanna closer to their target.
The match was not yet over as Lanna captain Pete Warner was lbw to Shaffi for 3 and Johnson was bowled by Ubaid for a whirlwind 20 to leave the score on 123 for eight with 16 runs still needed.
Nithi is a Thai who learnt his cricket while he was at school in Australia and his enthusiasm shines through in everything he does, whether as a fast but erratic bowler or as an attacking batsman.
Untroubled by the close finish to the match, he hit four boundaries in an innings of just 11 balls before leaving Eddie Joyner to push the winning run into the off-side.
Thankfully, as Eddie says he runs quicker with his pads on, so Lanna were home to an exciting victory by two wickets with almost six overs to spare. CMCC are still top of the table having played three matches, but Lanna now have two wins out of two as they managed to beat CMCC for the first time this season.
These two quality local sides could have a long rivalry over coming seasons and they may well meet again in the final that will decide the league later in the year.