Glorious baking hot sunshine bathed the picturesque new Horseshoe Point Cricket Ground today as Thailand’s newest sixes tournament, the Pattaya International Cricket Sixes got underway.
Sixteen teams are battling for honours at this Asian Cricket Sixes Tour event, being hosted at Pattaya Cricket Club’s new home ground.
It was an action-packed day too with the Cricket Next Academy from India setting out their stall for the championship as they posted three good wins in Round One of the competition. First they defeated the Asian All Stars, also from India, by 30 runs after amassing a challenging total of 87 for 1 wicket from their 5 allotted overs. Nirmal Harsha scored 34 not out and took 1 wicket for 10 runs in his bowling spell for the Academy. Next victims were the Warathais from New South Wales who lost the close match by just 3 runs, the Academy having made 73 in their innings. Socrates of the Warathais scored 29 runs against the talented youngsters in a losing cause. Their final challengers of the day were the gallant, mixed team, the Custom Cockatoos from Adelaide who made a great fight of trying to reach the Academy total of 91, but in the end fell 26 runs short.
The adjudicators panel met at the conclusion of the matches today to award a number of prizes for individual performances during Day One of the tournament. Cyrus Maybud of the Perth Postels was adjudged the ACST Player of the Day for his excellent all round contribution, especially with the bat. The Outback Batsman of the Day was awarded to Jignesh of the Cricket Next Academy and the Outback Best Bowler award went to Nic Nic of the Custom Cockatoos.
Eight teams played today in the first half of the Round One fixtures which will be completed by the end of play tomorrow when the streaming of teams into round Two will take place. The action continues tomorrow with matches commencing at 9.15am with the Pattaya CC Colts taking on the Thai Spirits in an all Thai affair.
Entry to the ground for spectators is free and refreshments are available.
For further information about the Pattaya international Cricket Sixes see www.pattayasixes.com
