It would be the hosts who would come out on top over the course of the weekend as a 6-wicket victory by a Phuket XI on Friday (Nov 28) was followed up by an emphatic 86-run win by local side Patong Penguins two days later to clinch the series 2-0.
After a lengthy off-season, Phuket’s cricketers were eager to kickstart their season in earnest as a combined team from the island’s domestic sides came together to take on the visitors in Friday’s 30-over clash.
After an immaculately conducted toss by umpire and birthday-boy Seemant Raju, Hertfordshire captain Sheylesh Sampant elected to bat first on a scorching morning at the ACG.
His chargers were slow out the gates however as the tourists were reduced to 20/2 by the end of the 8-over power-play following excellent opening spells from spin duo and Right said Fred lookalikes Simon Wetherell and Adrain Lai. Dipan Suwarneraj (9) and Dileep Patel (5) provided an 11-run stand before Mohammed Umar ended the pairs stubborn resistance with two wickets in the 12th over, helped by a rare Sunny Bowry catch.
With batters struggling to adapt to conditions, wickets continued to tumble with regularity as an early finish looked on the cards with the score a lowly 42/7 at the half-way stage. Fortunately for the visitors Phuket’s skipper Bowry had other ideas as he brought himself into the attack only to bowl five consecutive no-balls, much to the delight of the opposition and on-lookers alike.
As the Abyssinian struggled to find his length, Stephen Baker (5) and Martin Pether (24) gratefully added a 23-run partnership before the former was removed in the 22nd over as Rana Chetan picked up his second scalp. Bowry’s persistence finally paid off as he picked up the penultimate wicket before the innings was wrapped up by Yasir Sami in the 29th over as the visitors posted a sub-par 90 all out.
Chasing a modest target, the hosts will have hoped for a smooth run-chase to seal victory. Determined to make things as difficult as possible, Hertfordshire skipper Sampant led from the front in removing opener Yasir (0) for a duck in the second over.
John Smith maintained the squeeze in the following over as Usman Khaleeque (1) failed to make an impact. Abu Bakar (4) was the next Phuket wicket to fall as the hosts were put under pressure for the first time. However with wickets falling around him, Shakeel Raja (39) provided the perfect counter-punching knock before he was adjudged LBW in the 9th over as Smith claimed his second wicket of the match.
With the score 64/4 at the drinks break, the visitors continued to push for an unlikely victory. Unfortunately it would be in vain however, as Umar (16*) and Lai (20*) consolidated the innings with a 27-run stand to clinch victory for the Phuket XI.
Swiftly following the game, the post match presentations commenced in the clubhouse where Umar was the recipient of the Man of the Match award for his contribution with both bat and ball.
Other performances of note included Chetan’s 2-17 from his 5 overs whilst Raja’s explosive 39 from 27 proved crucial in breaking the back of the run chase.
In defeat, Hertfordshire’s wicket-keeper batsman Pether was the shining light with the bat whilst Smith’s spirited spell of 2-24 ensured his side went down fighting.
Stalwarts
With batting conditions expected to ease following pitch and outfield repairs during the days rest in-between matches, local stalwarts Patong Penguins looked to take advantage of such conditions in electing to bat first. The decision seemed like the correct one, as openers Wetherell (26) and debutant Sam (9) appeared to have the bit between their teeth as they galloped along early before the latter was removed in the 4th over following some sharp work behind the stumps from Pether.
Fellow debutant Pelham Myburgh was the next man to the crease and the former Namibian U19 international wasted little time in showing his class with some exquisite cover-drives. Following the drinks-break the left hander brought up the self-imposed retirement score with a classy run-a-ball 30. There would be little let-up for the visitors however as Sajal Gaur (30*), Mayur Deuskar (30*) and Andrew Langston (33*) all successively hit their retirement score in rapid time as the score motored along to 191-2 by the end of the 25th over.
Heading into the final furlong of the innings and with just 5 overs remaining, skipper Sampant cleaned up his counterpart Livermore (5) cheaply before youngsters Bowry (9) and Raju (12*) bolstered the hosts’ score to a healthy 217/4 from the allotted 30 overs.
A swift start was required from Hertfordshire openers Patel (7*) and Oliver (9*) if the visitors were to chase down the lofty 218 target. However a fiery (albeit wicket-less) fast bowling spell from both Raju and Waqar Aziz restricted the tourists early as the score nudged along to 37 without loss at the 10-over drinks-break.
Post-drinks saw both openers retire after seeing their side through a tricky early period. After stand-in skipper Livermore begrudgingly threw the ball in Bowry’s direction, the run-rate instantly increased as the extras began piling up, keeping both umpires and scorers busy in the process. After a defiant 24-run stand between Anonthy Ali (3) and Samuel Newall (15), the mystery-spinner finally proved his worth by removing the former in the 15th over before a sharp Myburgh run-out removed Newall a mere two overs later.
Julian Coppock added snappy 8 from 5 before becoming Sam’s maiden wicket in the 18th over. Suwarneraj (14) and Pether (12) reached double figures before Wetherell removed both before any further damage could be inflicted. With the score reading 116-6 by the 25th over and any hope of victory long gone, Sampant (6) and Smith (6*) dug in valiantly to ensure their side at least batted out the allotted 30 overs.
Although disappointed not to pick up 10 wickets, the home side still left the field satisfied as they rounded out the weekend with a convincing 86-run win to go along with Friday’s success.
Debutant Myburgh just edged out Wetherell for the Man of the Match award for his high-quality knock with the bat.
Langston’s 33 from 19 deliveries faced stood out amongst the host’s retirees whilst Sam delivered a tidy performance (2-15) with the ball on his Penguin debut.
Baker’s returns of 2-32 from 6 overs didn’t go unnoticed in defeat whilst Bowry managed to gather his thoughts in the nick of time to deliver an exemplary post-match speech.
A special mention to both umpires Raju and Neil Quail for they efforts over the course of a weekend which, incredibly, included a total of 126 extras!
Patong Penguins, Phuket cricket and the ACG would like to thank Hertfordshire Seniors for a fine weekend and hope to see their return next year for another excellent weekend of cricket.