Phuket Sports: Cricket sixes ends with new champions

PHUKET: MG7 from Kuwait were crowned Cup champions for the first time of the 9th annual Phuket International Cricket Sixes following their victory in the Cup final over compatriots the Skylarks.

Finals day of the 9th Phuket International Cricket Sixes was played under glorious sunshine at the Kata Group Sports Ground in Chalong, Phuket. The twenty-four teams competing in the ICC award winning tournament were ranked one to twenty-four and placed in Cup, Bowl, Plate and Spoon divisions following the completion of the rain affected Round One.

At the end of Round One Shepperton Sharks from Australia were ranked in first place after an impressive unbeaten run. Curtin Victoria Park were ranked 24th.

In Cup action, MG7 from Kuwait had earned themselves a place in the final with a solid victory over Gauhati Town from India. Gauhati put on a modest 34 runs which Audi and Faisal smashed off in just 10 balls.

Skylarks, also from Kuwait, made it an all-Kuwait final with their victory over St Frances de Sales. St Frances struggled to 35 runs against accurate Skylark bowling, Hammer top scoring with 24 runs. Skylarks knocked off the required runs with an over to spare.

The Cup final was a very one sided affair once MG7 had posted a challenging 85 runs. Audi, who was named Player of the Final and Player of the Tournament, retired on 30 not out and was supported by Ahmed and Casino. Skylarks in their innings quickly lost their star batsman Razzak for just 2 runs and then collapsed all out for just 28 giving MG7 their first Cup victory in Phuket. The trophy was presented by Khun Andrew of the Kata Group.

Southern Stars lifted the Plate trophy following a very narrow win over St Frances. St Frances had notched up 58 runs, Big Job top scoring with 25 runs. The Stars won the final with a single off the last ball of the match having Pinky to thank for guiding his side to victory with 33 not out. Pinky was named Player of the Final.

The Bowl final was an entertaining affair between the CBB SCs and the Singapore Slingers. Batting first the Slingers, featuring Vicky and Rajesh, put on 68 for 4, Karthik scored 23 and Mahesh 20 for the Singsongers. Reds then led the CBBers to the win with 31 not out as the Sixes veterans won with an over to spare. Reds was awarded the Player of the Final trophy.

The Spoon trophy was won by Baulkham Hills CC with 3 balls to spare against Pinjarra CC. Latts top scored for Pinjarra with 28 not out as they posted a handy score of 71. However their fellow Aussies timed their run chase perfectly led by Player of the Final Wijesekara who scored 33 not out.

The Sixes Gala Awards Dinner attended by all the teams and officials was again held at the Kata Beach Resort and was kindly sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

It was announced at the dinner that the fund raising activities organised by Carolyn Latter had, thanks to the generosity of the teams, raised a massive 190,000 Baht (approx US$6,100), the highest amount ever raised and easily topping the 158,000 baht raised in 2011. The money raised is administered by the Phuket Junior Cricket Development Fund and used for local activities and programs which benefit the development of junior cricket in Phuket.

The Phuket International Cricket Sixes was the final event of ACST Phuket Cricket Week, a series of cricket tournaments, functions and parties organised by the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour. Thirty six teams plus supporters and officials participated.

For further information see www.phuketsixes.com with more photos at www.facebook.com/phuketgazette.net.