The match between Lanna Thais and Lamphun was scheduled to be the final league match of the season with the possibility of the leading two teams deciding who would be league champions in a showpiece final. These plans were put on hold after a request by Lamphun to play a friendly instead because of the number of inexperienced players in their side.
When the Lanna Thais arrived at Royals Lamphun were already preparing for the match with all their top five players on display along with five youngsters and Mot who had played in the Hill Tribe team from Wat Don Chan as long ago as 2009. In fact it was Lanna Thais who were weakened with Jason Bray in Australia and George Hamilton back in England, Jun suffering from the flu and several younger players unavailable.
A 25-over friendly was played and although Bunchuai was dismissed in the first over caught behind by Martin Papworth off Richard Young Lamphun built a good total of 161 for 6 thanks to 47 from Champ and a maiden 50 from Choo. Richard Young and Matt Bray both took two wickets and somehow Locky clung on to a catch at mid-wicket to dismiss Chanchai.
The loss of two early wickets put Lanna Thais on the back foot as Jun was bowled by Chanchai and Richard Young gave Chanchai some catching practice at slip. Daeng resisted well to score 12 from 30 balls and Matt Bray was a victim of Chanchaii’s safe hands at mid on after he had made a confident 31. Mot took two wickets on his return to cricket but Eddie Joyner hit two fours to roll back the years and Martin Papworth hit his first ever six and celebrated as if he had won the World T20 at very least.
Locky came in as last man and had ideas of a heroic last wicket partnership with Martin with only 48 needed in 4.2 overs but his dreams became a nightmare as Martin refused his call for a single and was run out when an Olympic sprint and a headlong dive may have got him in.
Lamphun, too weak to play a league match, won by a comfortable 47 runs and the league remains unfinished with one more match (and a possible final) still to be played. Richard Young will be heading back to his stately home in Cambridge and Matt will be on his European tour so Martin, Locky and Eddie have a big task on their hands to win some more silverware.
Luckily Lanna’s ladies are looking good with Pin Papworth fielding enthusiastically and hitting a nice shot off her legs in this match and Ting Tang a very steady bowler still in reserve. Hopefully Lamphun will feel they are strong enough to take on the newly renamed Lanna Thai Angels team and the league season can be completed.