Sixes cricket is alive and well at Gymkhana Club in Chiang Mai as the the second edition of the Gymkhana Sixes was held on 4th and 5th December as Rob Bernard reports.
Local side Chiang Mai All Stars thrilled the crowds with some brilliant cricket to lift the Cup at the second Gymkhana Cricket Sixes on Sunday afternoon. The second grade Gents Shield was won by Shrewsbury Sloggers.
Burhan’s victorious side defeated Southerners by 6 wickets in the premier event. Regular big hitter Abaid Ullah smashed an unbeaten 34 in the win to add to some earlier destruction. In his team’s semi-final win against Lamphun he retired on 34 off just 6 deliveries. Southerners avenged their previous evening defeat against Parrots with Thai national skipper Daniel Jacobs retiring on 36 to reach the final.
In the battle of the losing Cup semi-finalists, Cup holders Lamphun proved too strong against Parrots to finish in third place to gain revenge of a tie earlier in the day as Thai starlet Chanchai scored his second 36 of the day. Pattaya edged out PCC Falcons to end proceedings in sixth place after losing fewer wickets with both sides ending on 60.
Earlier in the day, matches that were all but quarter finals except in name, saw more wonderful stroke play from the Parrots pairing of Bobby Raina and Nahim Iqbal prove too strong for Lamphun despite a 36 not out Chanchai. Luke Stokes retirement for Pattaya wasn’t enough to reel in the target set by Southerners with Andrew Purser starring.
In the Gents division the Shield went to Shrewsbury Sloggers with Henry Bateson continuing his fine form as they beat local side Lanna by 9 runs. Lords of the Beers ended third in the section following their win against Koh Chang with Terrence taking a hat-trick for the victors in the play-off game which brought proceedings to an end.
The morning had contained some emotional nail-biting action as Shrewsbury Sloggers saw off Malakas and Lords of the Beers to reach the final while the youths of Koh Chang won the hearts of the crowd as they skittled out Lanna, with Pang taking 3 wickets for 1 run from his over before knocking off the target. Their later game saw Mawin bowl an amazing final over as opponents Lucky Malakas were left scratching their heads in defeat. Malakas’ Boy of the Rasta Bar proved a popular player with all attendees with his endless enthusiasm in his debut event.
At the close of play the presentations were made around the Boundary Bar at the Gymkhana as the two victorious sides received their trophies along with the players of Koh Chang, who the adjudicating panel decided were joint players of the tournament.