Floggers and Robbers were expected to provide strong opposition but a seven-wicket victory for Lanna extended their lead at the top of the Chiang Mai Senior League
The first meeting between the two adult teams in the Chiang Mai Senior League on 20th January 2013 was an eagerly anticipated contest but the week before the match was a testing one for Floggers captain Chris Coombes as he searched in vain for members of his team who all seemed to be away from Chiang Mai at the same time.
It had been decided that the show must go on as Sunday League Cricket at Gymkhana Club was proving popular for players and spectators alike so the opportunity was taken to invite members of Chiang Mai Cricket Club to play as guests and three of the Gymkhana Juniors side were also given some more valuable match practice.
Two strong sides were eventually assembled and the match proved more than worthy of a league contest Chiang Mai Lanna dismissing a strong batting side for 167 and successfully chasing the target with only three wickets down.
A wicket was lost to the first ball of the match but Wani made 32 from 26 balls as he added 46 with Max Coombes for the second wicket. Ryan Sherman took two wickets with his slow left-arm to reduce the Floggers to 50 for 4, but Chris Coombes was batting down the order today and he was joined by the mercurial Makki who got himself in by hitting a six first ball and also stroked six fours in an innings of 42 from just 21 balls.
The Floggers captain almost matched Makki stroke by stroke as he made 35 from 27 balls but the reliable Cher dismissed both batsmen as he twice hit the stumps. His Gymkhana Juniors team-mate Choo made an unbeaten 13 but could only watch as Tom Salusbury provided a memorable end to the innings.
He came on to bowl with the score on 151 for 7 after 20 overs and having bowled two tidy overs and taken one wicket, he finished the innings with a triple wicket maiden. His figures were helped by the twelfth man being allowed to bat but his final analysis of 3-1-3-4 is the best in the league so far as he will no doubt remind his team-mates on a regular basis.
A total of 167 in 25 overs was still more than enough to provide a test for Chiang Mai Lanna’s batting strength but they passed that test with flying colours as Richard Cowles gave himself time to get his eye in by scoring only eight from his first 23 balls before unleashing a series of fine strokes from his newly purchased bat.
Cowles hit three fours and two sixes to post his fifty from 52 balls before retiring and he was well supported by Ryan Sherman who made 41 from 33 balls. Sherman paced his innings in reverse fashion as he hit five fours from his first eight balls before pushing the singles and watching his partner go for his shots.
The batting fireworks did not stop there as the Woolls brothers, Liam and Tim, matched each other stroke for stroke and it was a surprise when the younger brother Liam was dismissed for 32 with only four needed for victory. Older brother Tim used his extra experience to hit the winning runs and finish unbeaten on 29.
It was a memorable victory for Lanna who completed their fourth win in five matches and they will take some beating such is the power in their batting line-up. The league is not yet decided because Floggers still have four more matches to play and their stroke-makers also have the priceless ability to chase any target.