Chiang Mai Sixes teams settle into their divisions
The fourth day of the Chiang Mai international Cricket Sixes yesterday saw the 31 teams from 11 countries divided into their various divisions after three days of round-robin play.
With a record number of teams entered this year, the organisers have split the tournament into five divisions - Cup, Shield, Bowl, Plate and Spoon. The hot and humid conditions didn't appear to worry the unusually named Camel Bar Humps - a team of expats based around Thailand's Eastern Seaboard - who have the best record so far and remain undefeated after three matches in the Spoon division. The Camel Bar Humps lost only one wicket in yesterday's game against the Armadillos, a team from England, and scored a respectable 66 against their rivals' 30. Local Chiang Mai team and defending Spoon champions the Gymkhana Cavaliers - which has some very good junior Thai players in the side - have won only one of their three games and are facing an uphill battle to hang on to their title. A total of nine junior Thai players are involved in the senior competition this year, and are impressing with their talent. Bangkok-based club the Southerners played a tight Shield game against the Shanghai Dragons, who were just too hot for the local boys, winning with a huge total of 92 against the Southerners' 78. However, there were some contentious decisions in the game over the complicated no-ball rule in six-a-side cricket. Another Thai-based team, Pattaya's Jameson's Dilettantes, went down to Bahrain-based team the Awali Taverners by only one run in their closely contested Shield match. Former Chiang Mai star teams the Lords Taverners and the Marchwiel Outlaws have not performed as well as in previous years and have ended up in the Bowl division. The two teams met yesterday and the Lords Taverners prevailed by two runs. The 300-plus cricketers taking part in the tournament enjoyed their traditional "pig picking" party last night in the beautiful grounds of the 108-year-old Chiengmai Gymkhana Club, where three very large porkers were laid out on barbecue pits. The action continues today in the heart of the northern capital, and entry to the ground is free and food and drinks are available. Proceeds go towards developing local cricket at the junior level and to help restore the flood-damaged Chiengmai Gymkhana Club. The tournament for junior players also started yesterday and is being held on an adjacent field. Full results of every day's play can be found at www.chiangmaisixes.com. Alan ParkhouseThe Nation Chiang Mai
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