Day One Wrap of the 1st Kata Group International Cricket 7s 2012

April 14, 2012 - PRLog -- The first day of the first annual Kata Group International Cricket 7s took place today at the Kata Sports Group Ground (KGSG), Chalong, Phuket, Thailand.

With 12 teams flying to the Land of Smiles for the inaugural Sevens tournament, Day One was off to a flying start with a match between the Mighty Spires from England versus the Singapore Slingers with the Slingers coming out on top with an over to spare, T2 high scoring for the Slingers with 23 runs.


Next on to the new pitch at KGSG were the Chennai Super Sevens from India and one of the local teams, the Dabang Boyz. A total of 5 ducks from both sides got the fundraising for the tournament off to a great start, funds raised going towards the Phuket Junior Cricket Development Fund (PJCDF). The winner of the game was the Chennai Super Sevens with a total score of 44 being enough to beat the Phuket outfit.


The Galahs flew in from Australia and were matched with the Thailand Rugby League, curiously also of Australia. They did battle in the cauldron that is Chalong Sports Ground.  Bec Gray made a welcome return to Phuket helping the local boys out. The Galahs ended the game on top beating the TRLs by 20 runs. The Thailand Rugby League Captain retired hurt after mistiming a sweep shot and copping one in the noggin.  8 stitches in total were needed to repair the injury.


Finally taking to the pitch were the local Thai boys of the PCDC Natives who had a magnificent win against another Aussie side, the Lesmurdie Mazenod team.  In the true tradition of the spirit of cricket, the Lesmurdie boys put their hands in their pockets and paid for the local boy’s ducks as part of the PJCDF fundraising efforts.


Sixes ever presents the CBB’s took to the pitch against the Mighty Spires. The Mighty Spires defeated the CBB’s with a total of 40 and 4 wickets to spare. Cat had an awe-inspiring over with the ball, with figures of 0/18.The Mighty Spires took just over 4 overs to reach their winning score.


Local outfit Dabang Boyz came on for their 2nd game of the day to make short work of the NCL team from Bangladesh, although once again the Dabang Boyz had to contribute to the fund for the Phuket Junior Cricket Development Fund by buying another duck.  The final score was Dabang Boys 4/57 and the NCL 4/38.


The Galahs faced The Rowdies from UAE next, the Rowdies taking the game with an over to spare. The Rowdies kept the runs down to 44 but it seems that the sundries were the winners here, with 28 wides in total bowled by the wayward Galahs.


The CBB’s came out to play their second game, versus the Singapore slingers, with, unusually, youth on their side. Aiden Latter made his international debut at the tender age of 10 replacing Tiny who had retired after the previous CBB match. The game against the Singapore Slingers was a tight nailbiter, but the CBB’s came out on top, winning by just 1 run. Richie Oliver had the first retirement of the tournament with 32 not out.


The PCDC boys were once again winners in their 2nd game.  They faced the Vagabonds who had arrived late to the tournament after a 30 hour trip from Perth. The PCDC team scored a winning total of 1/65, with the Vagabonds contributing to the fund raising with 3 ducks in total and a score of just 5/29.


NCL and Chennai Super 7’s faced off next with a win by NCL. Once again the sundries were a high contributor to the final total. NCL were the final winners of the game scoring 2/47 and the Chennai team 6/21.  Sumon from NCL had the best figures of the game, with 3/2.


Thai Rugby League had their second game against the Rowdies, and it was a close one. The Rowdies proved too good though, ending the game with 45 runs in the last over with 2 balls to spare and winning the game by 2 runs.


The final game of the day was the Vagabonds versus the Lesmurdie Mazenod boys. The Vagabonds showed their travel fatigue, possibly gained through attempting to emulate David Boon, by giving the Mazenod boys only 28 to beat which they did with an over to spare.


All in all it was a great first day of the Kata Group International Cricket 7s 2012.


Play gets underway on day 2 of the new cricket tournament at 10am at the KGSG.


Spectators are welcome and entry is free.



The Kata Group International Cricket 7s is the first of three cricket tournaments taking place in Phuket during the new ACST Phuket Cricket Week 2012. For further information see www.phuketsixes.com




About the Kata Group International Cricket 7s (14-16 April)
The Kata Group International Cricket 7s is a new tournament for 2012, developed to cater for the increasing demand from teams to play cricket during Phuket Cricket Week. Twelve teams will compete in this new tournament which features a novel seven-a-side format, rather than the traditional six-a-side, giving the fielding team captain the advantage of an additional fielder. The Team Captains’ Meeting will take place on 13th April and matches will be played at Kata Group Sports Ground (KGSG) from 14th – 16th. The Kata Cricket 7s Players’ Party will be staged on the night of the 14th April.

About ACST Phuket Cricket Week 2012
The continuing success and growth of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes tournament, which was first staged in 2004, has led to the creation of the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour’s “Phuket Cricket Week” which features three cricket tournaments for overseas and local cricket teams and spectators to enjoy held from 14th – 22nd April: a Cricket 7s tournament, a Beach Cricket tournament and of course the Phuket International Cricket Sixes. Forty cricket teams from around the world are anticipated to be competing during Phuket Cricket Week.

During Phuket Cricket Week funds will be raised for the Phuket Junior Cricket Development Fund which provides funding towards junior cricket activities in Phuket. In 2011, 158,000 baht was raised for the Fund through the activities of ACST volunteers and the generosity of the teams.


About the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour (www.cricketsixes.com)
The Asian Cricket Sixes Tour promotes, organises and markets international award winning club cricket events at fantastic locations across Asia Pacific. Founded in 2000 with just one event, the annual Tour now comprises of tournaments in several locations across the region including Phuket, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, New South Wales, Pattaya, Shanghai, and Chiang Mai. The tournaments, which attract clubs and cricket celebrities from around the world and have won major awards from the International Cricket Council and Asian Cricket Council, have a core philosophy of 'friendship through cricket'; they also raise funds and attract practical support for cricket development and local charities in their locations. At ACST tournaments teams can be sure of a fantastic and rewarding overseas cricket tour.



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