Pattaya edged by Phuket

Following another successful Outrigger T20 competition, Phuket’s cricketers are now preparing for another exciting 40-Over campaign by hosting touring teams from the SE Asia Region at the ACG. These matches are not played for trophies or medals, but for the pure enjoyment of cricket, to re-kindle old friendships and to help promote the sport in places where its popularity is growing . . . maybe add a pinch of prestige, a sprinkle of socialising, and you have the perfect recipe for a great weekend of sport.

With that focus in mind, last weekend saw the return of Pattaya Cricket Club, a regular visitor to the Island, and the Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) was once again privileged to welcome the boys from Chonburi for a double-header at the ACG.

Saturday’s encounter was originally scheduled as a 30-over match against a PCG Select XI due to start at 11 am. But after only a single over, the umpires and players were forced to retreat to the clubhouse in a torrential downpour, which lasted for more than two hours.

Having won the toss, Pattaya had elected to bowl – and once the floods had subsided after lunch, the teams emerged to saturated conditions and a reduced 15-over per side compromise.

Opening the batting for PCG was Manish Sadarangani, who eventually retired due to a knee injury with 29 (28), while partner Arif Mushtaq scored 12(17) prior to being caught by Mudi off the bowling of Dave Scott.

Ali Khan began conservatively 33(26), showing little of his characteristic flamboyance with the bat until the final few overs when a few sixes eventually erupted before the bowling of Simon Philbrook downed the PCG player’s wicket.

The next batsman to the crease was Sameer Khan 1 (2), but his stay was cut short by a leg-side stumping spectacularly claimed by Paul Hack off the bowling of Venky.

A quick-fire 18(10) from Andrew McMillan was a welcome influx of runs that concluded with a caught and bowled from Mudi, ending the PCG captain’s efforts. Darshan Vaigankar notched 2(2), while Dipesh Bagdal managed 11(8) in his attempt to boost the PCG total only to be run out off the last ball.

Boundaries may have been hard to achieve in the wet conditions, but spirits and competition were far from dampened, with PCG posting a very respectable 130/5 off their 15 overs and Pattaya’s best bowlers coming in the form of Dave Scott (1/11, off 3) and Mudasir Rehman (1/16, off 3).

Aware that a difficult chase lay ahead, Pattaya sent Nicholson and Venky to the crease only to have Venky returned to the clubhouse before the end of the first over when he was caught behind by McMillan off Craig Murphy’s bowling.

Two run outs in the second over compounded the pressure on Pattaya when both Dimple (Venky’s replacement) and Nicholson were dismissed by Murphy and Sadarangani, respectively.

Pattaya captain, Simon Philbrook entered the fray and injected crucial runs and stability to the visitor’s innings. However, facing an over from Arif Mushtaq, Philbrook crashed two sixes before a delivery from the PCG bowler found its mark sending Philbrook back to his teammates with a commendable 22/23.

Unfortunately, for the remainder of Pattaya’s batting and hopes of victory, Philbrook was the only player to score above three runs. Surinder Kumar was caught and bowled by Sadarangani having not elevated the score before Hack of the spectacular stumping, himself falling victim to a stumping by McMillan off Sadarangani’s flighted delivery. Paddy Ledeboer doused any hopes of a revival with a direct hit from the outfield that curtailed Scott’s efforts with the bat and ended with Bagdal dismissing Usman to close Pattaya’s innings on 52/9 after 12 overs.

Overnight, the outfield had recovered sufficiently to ensure the scheduled 20 over game against Patong CC would go ahead.

At the helm for Patong was Justin Swart who suffered his first loss when Pattaya again won the toss, but decided to put the home side in to bat.

Patong opened with Imtiyaz Mushtaq and Paddy Ledeboer, with the former adding 23(27) before succumbing to the bowling of Dimple, while the latter was dismissed on 4(2) falling to the bowling of Rehman.

Ledeboer’s return to the clubhouse heralded Stuart Hamilton to the crease, whose recent plummet into fatherhood did little to deter his usual swashbuckling antics with the bat. Hamilton’s unbeaten 61 not out off 64 balls was supplemented by two 6s and two 4s as he watched team mates come and go, with additional scores of note only coming from skipper Swart 20(11) and Bagdal 20(18).

Retiring to the comfort of the ACG facilities with a score of 160-5, Patong would have been forgiven a growing confidence towards victory, but with only 10 players the home side knew Pattaya would not capitulate in a similar fashion to Saturday’s performance.

Resistance to Patong’s pressure was short-lived, however, following the opening partnership between Dimple 19(12) and Venky 4(2), with only one other player in the Pattaya batting line-up, in the form of Dave Scott 10(14), managing double figures. Scott may well have increased his tally but for a spectacular catch by Hamilton, which helped secure the man-of-the-match award for the Patong player.

Pattaya’s innings eventually concluded in the 14th over on a score of 88-11 after 69 minutes in the field. Pick of the bowlers for Patong were A. Mushtaq (2/14 off 18 deliveries), McMillan (2/8 off 12 deliveries) and I. Mushtaq (2/7 off 11 deliveries).

Offering his thoughts after the game, Patong captain Swart said that “It was a pleasure to host Pattaya at the ACG and we hope to visit Pattaya at their home ground for a return fixture in the near future.”

Pattaya captain Philbrook remarked, “We had a great weekend and tremendous hospitality. Many thanks (to the PCG) and hope we all catch up very soon.”

Next week at the ACG, a mini-7s tournament is being organised for any team interested in participating. Players or teams can show their interest by contacting Manish Sadarangani via the Phuket Cricket Group’s Facebook page.

Photo caption: Dipesh Badgal looking stylish, but unfortunately this strike was caught on the boundary. Photo: Michael Way

Upcoming tours at the ACG

For more information on Phuket cricket, please visit www.acgphuket.com or contact Dave Thomas via davethomas01@hotmail.com.

Report by Neil Quail