Lanna Thais enjoyed a remarkable 149 run victory over Lanna at the David Buck Oval to keep their dreams of retaining the Chiang Mai Senior League alive.
The idyllic ground at Prem International School witnessed some fantastic individual performances as Martin Cardno and Jun Aryi both hit fifties as they gave Lanna Thais the perfect start. Yet the pair didn’t even make the headlines, even though Cardno has been full of runs at the top of the order in the league this year
Top billing instead went to Jon Scales who came in at number three and blasted a century from 57 balls as he started off in blistering fashion and saw Lanna Thais through to a total of 256 for 4 in 30 overs. But with the ball still racing to the boundary as Lanna replied with 40 from the first four overs, Elliot Lodge produced the performance of his life when he came on to bowl.
Elliot clearly was keen to bowl with the new ball but the Lanna Thais captain already had his plans in place with an opening attack of the normally reliable Eddie Joyner and the talented left-armer Jun Aryi. ‘Up to you’ said Elliot but once Eddie had dropped short to Russell Ward, there was only one option: give the ball to Elliot.
The scorecard will record an inspired bowling change as Elliot took two wickets in his first over and finished with six wickets for 39 in his six overs, but it wa all down to Elliot who bowled fast and straight on a blameless wicket.
Lanna were dismissed for just 107 in 21 overs to give Lanna Thais victory by a crushing 149 runs that will do wonders for their net run-rate. CMCC still top the league with four wins in five matches but Lanna Thais are making them fight for the title as they now have three wins in five matches.
If Lanna Thais beat CMCC in the final match scheduled for May both teams will be level on four wins apiece and the league will again be decided on net run-rate.