Gymkhana Juniors have given a good account of themselves in their first three matches in the Chiang Mai Senior League but have been defeated on each occasion so it was a memorable day at Royal Chiang Mai when they beat fellow junior team CPP by nine wickets to gain their first league win in convincing style.
CPP, a school dedicated to sporting success at Doi Saket, had started the season strongly with two wins but they were without their senior players so Gymkhana Juniors were hopeful of victory after losing narrowly the last few times the two teams have met, particularly as they welcomed back Sufi Basharat who has been at school in Delhi and working hard on his cricket.
CPP won the toss and decided to bat first and it was a decision they were soon to regret as the wickets began to fall against some very accurate bowling. Chanchai bowled an outstanding opening spell with two wickets for three from his four overs and Choo backed him up with a wicket as CPP were reduced to 12 for three.
Two more seam bowlers were introduced with Nikom who has recently made his senior debut for Thailand bowling with hostility but it was Cher who took the next three wickets as the first six batsmen were all out bowled.
Sufi came on to bowl his off spin and he also hit the stumps to dismiss J for 11 to leave the score on 41 for 7 and he combined with Pong who had come back from Chiang Rai for the match to finish off the innings for just 57 in 21.1 overs.
We had seen an outstanding team bowling performance from Gymkhana Juniors but also a poor batting display from an inexperienced CPP side who seemed to lack the technique needed to combat some very disciplined bowling.
Sufi and Bonchuaai opened the batting for Gymkhana and played very straight early in the innings and were soon able to take advantage of the occasional bad ball. Spin was introduced after only eight overs and the fifty partnership came up in the 10th over. Sufi was dismissed for 27 from 29 balls as he attempted the winning hit which was achieved by Nikom who hit his second ball for four.
Gymkhana Juniors finished on 58 for one in 11.2 overs to claim a historic nine wicket victory and it is hoped that this success will inspire the young Thai boys (and the one Thai girl Nok who took a good catch) to greater things. CPP went home early on their bus but the Juniors thoroughly enjoyed the impromptu game of Sixes cricket that was staged with even the umpires making the most of a chance to play.