Chiang Mai junior cricket league

It was a game deserving of a Grand Final, exciting and nail biting, with the result in doubt until the last wicket fell. Wat Don Chan won the toss and elected to field. Watdonchan’s Pong ( Kawapong Hanprab) and Jun ( Jun Aryi) made early inroads, removing CPP’s top order with some outstanding swing bowling, reducing the batting side to 29 runs for 6 wickets, an easy victory looked in sight. Ga (Kitanoo Serger) batting at number 5 steadied the innings with 12 runs, and an invaluable 16 from Jai ( Pongsakorn Mayer) batting at number 8 gave CPP some crucial extra runs. Jun returning with 4 wickets for 14 runs was the pick of the bowlers, and CPP could only reach 70 before finally being bowled out. After such a great bowling performance ,Wat Don Chan started their innings in steady, sensible fashion at first, eking out runs from the consistent bowling attack, but 3 wickets fell in quick succession leaving them reeling on 20 for 3. Jun the league’s leading batsman was run out for a duck which turned the tide in CPP’s favour. Thai international bowler Yon (Kitikun Tacheenam) removed most of the top order, but Watdonchan’s captain Mike (Arser Jailergoo), top scoring with 25, remained defiant and pushed the side onto 44-3 at the 10 overs drinks break, giving them a great chance to win. When play resumed though, the captain soon fell to an unfortunate run out, and then a series of indiscriminate shots caused a flurry of wickets to fall, from the accurate bowling of Ga and Seegame ( Surasak Wanarit). It became a real tussle as the batsmen edged the score up and it seemed they might pull off a sensational victory. However, Watdonchan lost their last 7 wickets for only 15 runs, and the final scenes saw the ecstatic CPP players celebrating the win by 11 runs. Watching the game you had to be impressed with the ability and application of all the players on the day and it showed that cricket in Chiang Mai is strong and on the right path.The enthusiasm and energy in the field was evident from both sides, and the bowling proved to be too good on the day for batsman still short on experience.

(From Left to Right), CCP Batsman Date bowled by Pong, WDC in white and CPP, WDC's Jun run out without scoring.