Laguna bowl over Village in senior cricket league

PHUKET: The third round of Phuket Cricket Group’s senior league saw Laguna CC pitted against Village CC at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) in Thalang last Sunday.

Laguna, who were coming off the back of a good win against Thalang in the season opener, were looking to maintain their good form. Meanwhile, the Village were looking to open their account with their first win of the season.

Laguna dominated the match, scoring an impressive 268-6 from 35 overs, while the Village fell short of the first innings points, being bowled out for 134 in 38.1 overs.

Laguna got off to flying start, with openers Iqbal Malik (74) and Manish Sadarangani (34) putting on a 117-run opening stand before Malik was dismissed in the 12th over. Malik was particularly aggressive smashing 12 fours and one six from just 44 balls.

Sameer Khan (55) then combined with Sadarangani and later with Arif Mushtaq (28) before he was dismissed in the 31st over with the score on 225-4.

Man of the Match Manish Sadarangani joined fellow Laguna opener Iqbal Malik to put on a 117-run opening stand against the Village at the Alan Cooke Ground in Thalang last Sunday.

With a very defendable first innings total, Laguna pressed on with Roly Cooper (28 from 16 balls) boosting the score to 268-6 before they declared at the end of the 35th over, looking for a potential outright win.

The pick of the bowlers for Village were Iain Cossard (2 for 46) and Olly Wingate (2 for 51).

The Village got off to a shaky start, with opener Martin Platts retiring hurt after being struck on the chin in the second over, requiring a trip to hospital and 11 stitches.

Mark Whetton (50) and Mike Khan (12) then steadied the innings, going to the first 10-over drinks break without further loss.

However, Khan was stumped shortly after returning to the crease with the score on 42. Whetton and Syed Hussain (41) then stifled the Laguna bowling attack until their partnership was eventually broken in the 30th over with Whetton trapped leg before wicket with the score on 105-2.

Platts then returned to the middle (with helmet this time), but was dismissed shortly after.

The Village innings then collapsed with the loss of three more wickets with no runs added with the score on 123. Only nine runs later, Manish Sadarangani struck in the 38th over, securing a hat-trick, a first in the senior league, and the Village were all out just one ball later at the start of the 39th over.

Pick of the bowlers for Laguna were Manish Sadarangani (5 for 16) and Roly Cooper (2 for 20).

Laguna have now secured two wins from two matches and will be looking to continue their good form when the season resumes after the Christmas and New Year break.

Island CC are scheduled to take on the Village in what is expected to be another cracker of a match at the ACG on January 4.

— Michael Way