Batting first, Laguna posted 179-5 from their 40 overs before bowling out Patong for 149 to get their season off to the perfect start. For a full match report see pageTK.
A total of seven cricket clubs are competing for IFL glory this season. Here are profiles on all the teams, highlighting their strengths, weaknesses and foibles.
Patong Cricket Club (PCC)
PCC have been competing in the league since its inception and have a wealth of experienced players from the cricket powerhouses of England, India, New Zealand and South Africa.
They are the current 35-over champions, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in a dramatic final against Laguna last season, and are once again primed for another season seeking to defend their title after only being allowed one month off since the end of last season before getting in plenty of nets sessions and friendly practice matches.
PCC is captained by Richard Folds, who is also the Phuket Cricket Group umpires representative. Expect him to know all possible methods of getting a dismissal, some which may have never previously been seen in a local match.
The batting lineup includes stroke makers Dave Thomas, Ian Lenton, Neil Quail and Anil Rawat, balanced out by the likes of Anthony Van Blerk, Richie Desmond, Richard Folds and Mark Whetton, who can steady the ship if required.
Their bowling attack is headed by speedster Rawat, who is ably supported by medium pacers Seemant Raju, Joshi Naresh, Feroz Khan and spinner Rishi Sardarangani.
Verdict: With a never-say-die attitude, likely to be strong contenders to defend their title.
Laguna Cricket Club (LCC)
Recent newcomers to the league, competing for the last two seasons, the Laguna team comprises players mainly from Australia and India (plus the odd Englishman), most of whom work at the Laguna Phuket integrated resort complex.
They are the current Twenty20 champions and will be looking to avenge their extraordinary batting collapse against Patong in last season’s 35-over final, which cost them the double crown.
LCC are captained by Stuart Reading, Chief Financial Officer of Laguna, so expect him to be keeping a close eye on the scores and statistics, while trying to come up with a winning formula.
A very strong batting line up includes veteran top order batsmen Billy “The Kid” Stahmer (the oldest player in the league at 62 years young), Andrew Cole and Mike Ayling (the odd Englishman) ably supported by their exiting stroke makers Sameer Khan, Reading, Sami Ullah, Damian Clowes and Mario Piazza.
LCC also have a strong bowling attack spearheaded by speedsters Jojy Abraham and Sami Ullah, supported by medium pacers Roly “Sultan of Swing” Cooper, Lijo Jose, Sameer and Ayling, plus Shane Warne wannabe, Darren Shaw.
Recovering after a tiring game should be a pleasure for the Laguna team with the assistance of team members Dr Jojy and Lijo, who run the Ayurveda spa division at Banyan Tree.
Verdict: A force to be reckoned with, LCC will be seeking to win their first league title.
Island Cricket Club (ICC)
The ICC, like Patong, has competed in the league since its inception, with players mainly hailing from India.
They are three-time league champions, but had an off season last year and will be looking to regain some lost form and once again become a dominant force.
ICC are captained by Anand Chand, a long-time league veteran who has plenty of appeal(s).
Their batting lineup contains some very exiting stroke makers, who, on their day can rip bowling attacks apart by hitting balls out of the park, but they’re a little like the French rugby team, so it really depends upon whether they “turn up to play on the day”.
Their bowling attack mainly consists of accurate line and length medium pacers, who will be difficult to get away.
Verdict: A very talented team, who, if they can hold it together, could easily raise the trophy for a record fourth time.
Liquid Lounge Lizards (LLL)
LLL, in one form or another, have also competed in the league since its inception, and mainly contains players from England and Australia, many of whom are either teachers or parents of children at the British International School (BIS).
Previously known as the Phuket Academicals, they are two time league champions but have struggled during the past few seasons having lost some key players.
LLL’s batting lineup includes the accomplished Peter Ferrier and Sean Raine as openers, supported by stroke makers Dave Kellerway and Dave Langley, plus stalwart Alf “Guitar Hero” Hodges.
The bowlers are led by Nifty Catts, who has been one of the league’s best bowlers in recent seasons, left arm swinger Raine and medium-pacer Hodges.
Veteran Patrick McEvoy has been promoted to fielding coach after his three catches in a single game performance last season.
This year they hope to introduce some younger blood to their team, bringing in some leaner, faster twitch students from BIS.
Stewart Lees, the team’s heart and soul, had this to say: “It’s serious boys; come on let’s have a laugh”.
Verdict: If their core players can keep it together (that’s a big if), they will be very competitive – not to be underestimated.
Village Coconut Island (The Village)
Having played in the previous three seasons, The Village team took a break last season due to construction of their sponsors’ resort, returning to the league this season with renewed vigor.
The team comprises players from England and Australia plus, ahem, up and coming cricketing nations such as Scotland.
The Village team’s motto is to have fun both on and off the field.
While some of their players have a cricketing background, others are new to the game, which shows the growing popularity of cricket in Phuket.
The Village is captained by James Firth, who “runs a tight ship”, if there is such a thing.
Their batting lineup has some hidden talents with the likes of Kevin Quilty and extras (joint highest run scorers for the past three seasons), Martin Platts (a former golf pro) and will be bolstered this year with the addition of the “Little Big Man”, Martin Foster, who memorably scored 164 in a match a few seasons ago.
They also have the experienced hands of Chris Gordon, Paul Moorhouse and Mark Ashman to call upon in the unlikely event that their top order batting collapses.
Their bowlers are headed up by Craig Patterson (you name it, he can bowl it), Tom Gordon (their specialist swinger), Quilty (getting faster) and others ready to roll their arm over.
Verdict: With the stress of construction over, the Village will be looking forward to competing, having plenty of fun and causing a few upsets along the way.
Phuket Leopards (Leopards)
This will be the Leopards’ third season in the Island Furniture League. The team comprises Thai schoolboys around 15-16 years of age from the PCG’s youth development program.
While the boys were probably intimidated when they first entered the senior league, they continue to hone their skills with the help of mentor Bill Stahmer and coach Khun Took.
The Leopards are captained by Pow who has spent four months in Chiang Mai training with the Thai national youth squad.
Their batting lineup features the captain Pow and the free-flowing stroke makers Best and Mack.
The same players also feature in their bowling attack, but expect to see the emergence of new talent this season, with Yo, a tall left arm pace bowler, particularly making rapid progress.
Coach Took has also be very focused on fielding, another important aspect of the game.
Verdict: While probably not yet experienced enough to lift the league title, they will be looking to be provide stiff competition for several teams, which will prepare them well for the Thailand national youth games to be held at the ACG in May 2012.
Thanyapura News Tigers (TNT)
The Thanyapura News Tigers are a ragtag bunch of cricket enthusiasts who were keen to either relive former glories or simply needed an excuse to get out of the house (read: escape from the kids) for a few hours on a Sunday morning.
The team is made up largely of Brits and Aussies, ably supported by one or two players from other locations around the world such Sri Lanka and cricketing powerhouses USA and Ecuador.
New to the league, TNT are all about the social side of cricket and aren’t really expecting too much from their debut season. That said, they’ll enjoy themselves all the way and might just spring a few surprises.
Practice has made interesting viewing and teams that have sent scouts along to TSLC will have come back with bags full of information and aching sides from laughing so much.
The TNT are skippered by Barrie “Safe Hands” Buck who, as well as leading the side, also keeps wicket, fetches the drinks and just about everything else in between.
Like the England team that toured Australia for the 1986/87 Ashes tour, TNT can’t bat, can’t bowl and can’t field, but we all know how that series eventually finished...
Spearheading the attack is Aussie Ryan Jon Dunn and Sri Lankan Roshan Jayasuriya, ably backed up by Dane Halpin, Buck, Dan Smith and Martin Hill, who bowl some nice medium-pacers, plus the part-time spin (and we’re being generous here) of The Phuket News’ Sport Editor Dan Ogunshakin.
The willow wielders include Jayasuriya, Smith, Hill, Dunn, Joseph Nagy and Simon Samaan, who will trouble the scorers if he can avoid running himself out.
Verdict: Expect plenty of fireworks from TNT.