The Chiang Mai Senior League has been created this season to give the best Thai youngsters the chance of playing competitive cricket. Chiang Mai Cricket Club were initially unable to take part in the new league alongside two other senior and two junior teams but they have now given their full backing to the league and have shown themselves to be very supportive of youth cricket.
Sunday’s match between Gymkhana Club and CMCC was an important step in gathering all senior cricketers in Chiang Mai together and it was good for cricket in the city that an enjoyable match was played with both sides providing places for Thai youngsters who all showed their rich potential.
Chiang Mai CC showed they still had some high class players and won the match by 60 runs but in many ways youth cricket in Chiang Mai was the real winner as all the adults involved have now given the junior cricketers their full support.
CMCC won the toss and elected to bat and their top order went for their shots but they looked in some trouble at 73 for 5 in the 12th over. Nikom had already taken a brilliant catch on the boundary to dismiss the dangerous Wani but he dropped a much easier chance off Asif who took full advantage to reach his fifty from 28 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Asif was finally caught for 63 from 41 balls but young Cher batting at number ten was second top scorer with 17 not out as Chiang Mai CC were bowled out for 188 by a very young bowling attack, Pong taking 2 for 16 and Max Coombes 2 for 23.
Max then opened the batting with his father Chris and did well to survive until the 11th over against some testing bowling but Chris Coombes and Tim Woolls who had each scored three fifties so far in the season had both been dismissed cheaply so Gymkhana Club’s chase never quite got going.
Richard Cowles, who looks a fine wicket-keeper batsman, spent some valuable time at the crease and Thai boys Nikom and Chanchai both scored 19 before Gymkhana were dismissed for 128. Ten bowlers were given a chance to shine and it was the spinners Monty and Sufi, along with seamer Shafi, who all claimed two wickets.
Chiang Mai CC had won the match by 60 runs and Asif was declared man of the match, but the main feature of the game was the eight junior players playing alongside the men and each showing great promise for the future.
All future friendly matches at Gymkhana will showcase this young talent and Asif donated his man of the match award to Bonchuaai, captain of Gymkhana Juniors, as a gesture of his team’s support for youth cricket.
Scores:
6th January 2013
Chiang Mai CC 188 all out (29.1 overs) (Asif 63, Cher 17; Pong 2 for 16, Max Coombes 2 for 23)
Gymkhana Club 128 all out (28.3 overs) (Nikom 19, Chanchai 19; Monty 2 for 23, Shafi 2 for 9, Sufi 2 for 14)
Chiang Mai CC won by 60 runs