2011. Daily Reports

Phuket International Cricket Sixes 2011

Daily Reports

Crowd Roars as St Francis Camels Triumph at the

Phuket International Cricket Sixes 2011

Karen Rolton Stars on Finals Day for Cockatoos

Finals Day Wrap - Sunday 16th April 2011

Finals Day of the award winning 2011 Phuket International Cricket Sixes took place today in glorious sunshine and soaring temperatures, interrupted briefly by a tropical downpour at Karon Stadium, Phuket, Thailand.

The thermometer nudged thirty-nine degrees in the shade during the day and the action on the field in Cup, Plate, Bowl and Spoon divisions was just as scorching.

The finale of the Spoon Division brought together two Australian teams, the Cockatoos from Adelaide and, making their debut at the Sixes, the Gold Coast Falcons from Queensland. The Cockatoos featured former Australian national team captain Karen Rolton, and she took to the wayward Falcons bowling immediately in a brief and breezy innings of 20 not out off just 4 balls before retiring. 

Eddy was also in bludgeoning mood as he also retired having made 21, the Cockatoos posting an excellent score of 75 without loss. The Falcons were pegged back by accurate ‘Toos bowling, particularly by Treens, Karen Rolton and Rah Rah, and although Zaac retired on 20 not out the Falcons ended their run chase with 45, giving the Adelaide outfit the win and the silverware.

The Bowl Final saw two teams making their debut at the Phuket Sixes battling for honours, Southern Stars from Australia and MG7 of Kuwait. It was a one sided affair with the Stars putting on a challenging total of 72/1, Downie retiring on 34 not out. MG7 collapsed in the run chase due to some miserly bowling including an over of 1/1 by Brett. They struggled to 31/2 at the close making the Southern Stars the Bowl champions in their first tournament.

Plate final action was another all Australian clash featuring St. George’s River from Sydney versus Phuket regulars the Leeming Spartans of Perth. Batting first St George’s put on 67 /1 following some tight bowling and fielding by the Spartans. Ben Stares led the charge for the Sydney-siders smashing 28 not out. In reply Spartan batsman Hersey and Dollywood batted aggressively making 30 not out and 28 not out respectively to take the Perth outfit past their total with just one ball to spare to become Plate Champions.

The Cup final was a competitive, tightly fought affair between former champions, the Corner Tigers from Pakistan, and making their debut in the Cup final, St. Francis Camels from Australia. The Camels put on 56/3 off their allotted overs, Matty again batting with gusto making 33 not out. The Tigers would have been reasonably satisfied with the target, but some razor sharp bowling by the Camels regularly pegged back the Tiger batsmen. 

But the Tigers got within touching distance of the target, needing 4 to win off the last ball having lost 3 wickets. Nicko bowled the final ball straight down the corridor for no run delighting the excited Camels as they earned their first title as Champions of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes.

Earlier, the young Thai boys from the Phuket Cricket Group Cricket Development Programme, going by the team name PCDC Natives, made a little cricketing history by winning their first ever match at the Phuket Sixes. Fittingly they defeated a fellow Phuket side, the Karon Sea Sanders, which numbered several of their cricket coaches in the side. Frist was the pick of the Natives players, but all the boys contributed and were beaming with smiles after their win, which was loudly applauded by the appreciative crowd.

Four glorious days of cricket style ‘fun in the sun’ next to Karon Beach has been enjoyed by all twenty five teams, officials and spectators.

Following the completion of play, teams were treated to a lavish Gala Awards Dinner held in the ballroom at the Kata Beach Resort where a mountain of silverware was distributed.

It's Latts the Destroyer at Phuket International Cricket Sixes

Day Three Wrap - Saturday 15th April 2011

Day three of the eighth playing of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes Tournament got underway today in the fine setting of Karon Stadium. Play started a little earlier for the twenty five teams from eight different nations, and they didn't have to wait very long in the day to see something quite dramatic. 

Jake Latter of Leeming Top Deck bowled the final over against St Francis De Sales with the batting side still in with a sniff of victory. Having earlier scoring 26 not out, Latter clean bowled four batsmen with consecutive deliveries to win the match and receive a well deserved standing ovation from the crowd.

The day saw the teams playing in second round games with the intensity increasing to match the quality already on show in an action packed eighteen match schedule.

Well fancied Skylark of Kuwait booked their place in tomorrows Cup Semi Finals with victories over the Toorak Prahan and Willetton Crows, with Audi again driving them forward. St Francis Camels, a hybrid side from Bahrain and Melbourne also secured top level cricket on Finals Day with a couple of wins. Phuket regulars, Corner Tigers of Pakistan, also had a couple of wins as they showed all their experience in the field. The remaining place in the Cup Semi Finals will be secured by the next highest point earners from the three divisions.

It wasn't such a bright day on the park for CBB Postels, Dabangg Boyzz and Toorak Prahan who lost both their matches. Willetton Crows, Singapore Slingers, Gauhati Town, Curtin Vic Park, Customs and and MG7 all secured wins.

There will be seven further second round matches on Sunday morning before the semi finals and finals take place from 12.45, with the main event The Cup Final scheduled to start at 4pm.

After play the teams, officials, supporters and sponsors attended a "Sausage Sizzle" at the Australian Bar and Grill, as lifetime friendships were continued to be made.

Play starts at 8.45am tomorrow morning and all spectators are welcome. Admission is free and refreshments are available.

Once again the sun scorched the outfield, lots more money was raised for the ACST Phuket Cricket Junior Development Fund and quality cricket was played, but the talking point for those who were there will no doubt be the remarkable performance of Jake Latter.

It's All Aboard, as Skylark Top the Tree after Day Two

Day Two Wrap - Friday 14th April 2011

The team from Kuwait finished top of the tree after their two Preliminary Round games to go forward to compete in the Cup and Plate divisions with the next best eight sides.  

The tournament organised by the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour in conjunction with Phuket Cricket Group is in its eighth year and has attracted twenty five teams from eight different countries.

Today’s play commenced in scorching temperatures at Karon Stadium with all participants and spectators in good form after a tremendous Opening Party at The Karon Sea Sands. The side representing the resort obviously enjoyed themselves a little too much as they went down to Southern Stars early in the day's action. The ADF Tigers, returning after a two year sabbatical from their Penang base put in a fine showing to see off MG7. 

The local Dabangg Boyz once again were let down by their batting after a fine performance in the field as St Georges River saw off their challenge. The St Francis Camels wiped out any dreams of the local youths of the PCDC Natives, while the CBB Postels had a fine win against Falcon. Toorak Prahan defeated the Cockatoos, who included Thursday's ACST Player of the Day, Sonia 'Alby' Mangelsen in the ranks.

Willetton Crows were too strong for the Gold Cost Falcons, while some superb bowling from Corner Tigers was too much for St Francis De Sales.

At the conclusion of the Preliminary Round, two Spoon matches which saw Gold Coast Falcons see off a spirited challenge from the PCDC Natives, while the Karon Seasanders at last found second gear as they got over the line against the Cockatoos.

Round Two Groups (with rankings after the Preliminary Round)

Cup/Plate Groups

Group 1

Skylark 1

Toorak Prahan 4

Willetton Crows 7

Group 2

St Francis Camels 2

Leeming Spartans 5

ADF Tigers 8

Group 3

Corner Tigers 3

CBB Postels 6

St Georges River 9

Bowl

Group 1                                                                                                    

Singapore Slingers 10                                                                    

Falcon 15                                                                                       

Customs 21

Group 2                                                                                    

Leeming Top Deck 11

Southern Stars 16

St Francis De Sales 20

                               

Group 3                                                                                                   

St Georges Souths United 12                                                         

Gauhati Town 17                                                                            

Perth Postels 19

Group 4

Curtin Vic Park 13

MG 7 14 

Dabangg Boyz 18                                                  

Spoon

Gold Coast Falcons 22

Cockatoos 23

Karon Seasanders 24

PCDC Natives 25

The 91.5FM Phuket Island Radio Ladies Challenge Match which saw all the girls at the event competing saw a game between The Andaman Angels and The Phuket Pixies with the Angels being victorious in a wonderfuly spirited game, before the crowd were entertained by the local youngsters in the O'Tool's Phuket Junior Exhibition Match. Monies raised throughout the week will be going towards the ACST Phuket Junior Cricket Development Fund.

The final game of the day was the annual Twenty 20 All Star Game under the floodlights, featuring the tournaments best players representing Australia and the Rest of the World. Former Ausssie Test star Trevor Chappell managed the Antipodean side led by Will Badger with Aussie women's record holder Karen Rolton also in the side. The World side were led by tournament favourite, Saurav Chatterjee before heading off to a post-match party at Rosco's in Patong.

Leeming Spartans Put Down an Early Marker

Day One Wrap - Thursday 13th April 2011

The eighth playing of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes Tournament got underway today in the fine setting of Karon Stadium. Play was eagerly anticipated with twenty five teams from eight different nations coming to the island. All sides are set to play two preliminary round games before being divided into the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Spoon Divisions depending on their rankings.

The massively awaited encounter between the Cup Winners of last year, Gauhati Town of Assam, India and Leeming Spartans of Perth WA, last year's Plate Winners saw the Aussies putting down a big statement of intent with a fine victory as Shayne Hersey starred.

The tournament, is being staged by the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour in conjunction with the Phuket Cricket Group and the opening game truly epitomised the ACST mantra of "Making Friendships Through Cricket" as it featured the Singapore Slingers versus the Cockatoos of Adelaide. Earlier this year two of the Singaporian girls had visited South Australia on a sponsored coaching trip donated by the CBB CC. The Slingers were victorious in today's encounter.

St Georges River of Sydney also put in an impressive show against Leeming Top Deck while another Aussie side, Willettton Crows gave the St Francis Camels the hump with an emphatic win on their event debut. Another new side Gold Coast Falcons quickly learned of the standard of the regular sides as Corner Tigers of Pakistan gave out a lesson in chasing down a target. 

Regular ACST supporter Mahmood Abdullah has travelled from Kuwait with two sides, MG7 and Skylark and he'll be raising a glass to his charges after Skylark handed out a couple of hammerings to Southern Stars and The Seasanders, with Audi in great batting form. MG7 had earlier seen off Perth Postels.

The event sees three local sides competing, The Karon Seasanders, Dabangg Boyz and the youngsters of the PCDC Natives competing, but there'll be parades on the streets of Karon as all three were defeated by Curtin Victoria Park, Leeming Top Deck and Skylark respectively.

The best game of the day was left until the penultimate encounter, between St George Souths Juniors United and Gauhati Town. The Indians must have thought they'd reversed their earlier defeat only for Souths to chase down 79 off the final ball with Anthony Sinclair putting in a scintillating shift.

After play the teams, officials, supporters and sponsors attended the Opening Party at the Karon Sea Sands Hotel to continue enjoying the camararderie that features so much at this event.

Thursday 14th April

Results

Cockatoos 40 all out Singapore Slingers 67-2

MG7 66-2 Perth Postels 61-2
Leeming Spartans 77-2 Gauhati Town 63-1

St Georges River 77-3 Leeming Top Deck 68-2
CBB Postels 65-4 Customs 45-2

Southern Stars 64-2 Skylark 68-0
Curtin Victoria Park 64-1 St Francis Camels 65-3

Corner Tigers 63-0 Gold Coast Falcons 64-0
Willetton Crows 65-2 St Francis De Sales 39-3

PCDC Natives 20-2 Curtin Victoria Park 64-2
Toorak Prahan 50-4 Singapore Slingers 46-4

Dabangg Boyz 57-5 Leeming Top Deck 60-3
Falcon 55-3 Customs 44-0

Gauhati Town 79-2 St George Souths United 80-1
Karon Seasanders 33 Skylark 36-0