Calcutta outclass Etihad in Sixes final
KARON: The Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CCFC) produced a Sixes masterclass at Karon Stadium yesterday, sweeping aside all opposition in their quest for the Cup on the final day of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes.
First in the Calcutta firing line were the Liquid Lounge Lizards from Phuket, with each team vying for a place in the semi-finals.
Needing a win and at least 82 runs to qualify for the semis on run rate, a Calcutta batting blitz ensued as the Lizards’ bowlers were blasted to all parts of the ground. The CCFC posted 112 runs, the highest total of the tournament at that time.
The Lizards gave good chase, but eventually fell well short of the target.
Finalists last year, the Leeming Spartans, under inspirational captain Brad Mant, were next to suffer the brunt of the Calcutta batting lineup. The Spartans posted a reasonable 74 runs in their innings, but Calcutta topped that tally with five balls to spare and Aman Sodhi retiring for Calcutta on 35 not out.
In the other semi-final, Etihad, following a superb performance on Saturday, continued their good form by beating the Bahrain Camels. Bahrain has scored 71 runs in their innings, with Sanjay and Sreekanth showing good form with the bat with both retiring.
But again the Etihad opening batsmen fired, with Azam hitting a breezy 21 and Sanket, who was later voted Player of the Tournament, retiring on 33. The opening partnership set Etihad up to easily reach their target with more than an over to spare.
In the final, Calcutta amassed the highest total of the tournament; a massive 116 runs from their allotted five overs.
Both Sourav “Dolly” Chatterjee and Aman Sondhi retired. Dolly hit 32 not out off just eight balls, with the Etihad bowlers finding no answer to the onslaught. Rajiv Seth chipped in with 25 runs from six balls.
In reply, Ethihad scored a respectable 84 runs. Sanket again retired not out, but the total was well short of the huge target required and the CCFC returned to the pavilion champions in front of an appreciative crowd.
To much applause at the awards dinner at the Hilton Phuket Beach Resort & Spa, CFCC captain Dolly said, “As we’ve seen with this tournament, the Sixes brings together teams from all over world. And here I get to play against my best friends from Australia, South Africa and Pakistan – let’s keep it that way.”
In other action earlier in the day, Toorak Prahan CC of Melbourne won the Plate trophy in their first appearance in Phuket with a tight victory over a lively Uni Wanderers, also making their debut at the Phuket Sixes.
The Wanderers had put on a challenging 81 in their innings, but Toorak were equal to the task, winning the match with the last ball.
The Bowl final saw two Phuket Sixes regulars, the Bounty Buccaneers from Malaysia versus those Wild Men From Borneo. The Buccs put on an impressive 97 runs, helped by a big innings from Dave Nightingale, but also an enormous haul of wides sent down wildly by the Borneo men.
The Buccs won convincingly as the Wildmen fell for just 55 runs in reply, before heading to the solace of their jungle juice stash.
Guwahati Town from Assam, India, won the Spoon final with a victory over newcomers the Black Swans, from Australia. Guwahati posted 88 runs in their innings. The Swans fell well short in reply with 49 runs.
