The first ever edition of what is hoped will be an annual feature in the Chiang Mai Lanna CC calendar was held on Sunday 7th December at Gymkhana Club when the President’s Trophy was won by Lanna President’s XI who beat Lanna Select XI by six runs in a very exciting contest.
The inaugural President’s Day was hosted by Lanna President Tom Salusbury who helped to pick the two teams, provided lunch and paid for all the expenses of a fantastic day of cricket. All players and supporters had a fabulous time and club chairman Ian Harling ended the day by presenting Life Memberships and Honorary Memberships to several significant figures from Lanna’s history.
President’s XI batted first and opener Champ gave good support to Luke Stokes who became the first retirement of the day when he reached 50 from 45 balls. Jon Scales showed that form is temporary and class is permanent by becoming the third to reach 30 and Hugh Williams and Cher also reached the landmark as President’s XI made a health total of 246 for 7 in 35 overs.
After a break for a superb lunch poor Sagar Kumar was out first ball for Lanna Select XI before Shine Thomas and Nick Janes shared a partnership of 86 for the second wicket. Janes retired on reaching his fifty and Richard Cowles made a classy 47 to keep the chase going but Champ kept picking up wickets with his off-spin to run through the Select XI batting line-up.
Champ finished with figures of 5 for 39 as Select XI’s tenth wicket was lost on 192 still well short of their target only for Nick Janes to return to the crease and share a last wicket partnership with Ashish Pandey which brought the scores closer and closer. Jon Scales was entrusted with the last over and Janes hit two fours off the first two balls before managing a two but when he tried for another two his partner Pandey was run out giving President’s XI victory by six runs.
The last wicket partnership ended on 48 and Janes finished on 84* as he gallantly took his side close to an unlikely win. Pete Warner was winning captain and Janes and Champ were named men of the match for each side.
That was not the end of the presentation as Jon Scales, Martin Papworth and Richard Lockwood were named Life Members of the club and Tom Salusbury, George Appleton, David Walker, Taran Persaud, Chris Dodd, Sandy Cullen and Steve Williamson were named Honorary Members of the club.
Many beers were happily consumed before the end of the day and a big thank you to Lanna President Tom Salusbury for hosting a wonderful day of social club cricket.