Phuket Cricket Week: 2016. Sixes. Daily Reports & Photos

Phuket International Cricket Sixes 2016

Daily Reports & Photos

Kuwait Eagles win the Cup at the Sixes

Finals Day Wrap - Sunday 17^th April 2016

Kuwait Eagles were crowned as Cup winners of the 13^th ACST Phuket International Cricket Sixes on a majestic day at the Alan Cooke Ground to round off another highly successful event.

In a fitting final to match the previous matches throughout the four-day tournament, Mahmoud Abdullah’s brilliant all round side restricted Yarraleen Lions to 52-3 before reaching the total for the loss of 3 wickets, with 5 balls to spare to remain unbeaten at the ACG.

Eagles had earlier defeated Southern Stars of Victoria in the semi-final thanks to more superb batting from Murad Khan. Runners-up Lions had defeated previously unbeaten Warriors Qatar in their last four clash in probably the shock of the week thanks to a fine bowling display to take 5 Qatari wickets.

The second division Bowl competition saw victory for debutants Cricket Club of Dibrugarh over Kuwait Hawks thanks to nerveless late over bowling. The side from Assam in India had progressed to the final following a semi-final win against CBB’s, while Hawks had deflated the challenge of Gauhati Town in dramatic circumstances.

With one ball remaining the Indian side required 5 runs. The ball was bludgeoned to the fence, where a Hawks fielder soared high to stop the ball crossing the rope on the full to secure a victory in one of the best games many neutral spectators could remember.

Finals Day had begun with one outstanding game to complete from Round Two, which saw locally based side Aussie Zen defeat Discovery Bay Silverbackz. This set up the victors with a place in the Plate Final, where they were defeated by Phuket rivals, Madras Curry House thanks to an excellent knock from Diwan Mydeen.

The Shield was won by Discovery Bay who saw off the challenge of Katherine Bushrangers by 11 runs.

Following play at the ACG the teams headed back to their sumptuous tournament hotel, the Arinara Bangtao Beach Resort for the Presentation Dinner and to continue making friendships through cricket by the pool, and to see who won the coveted Player of the Tournament and Spirit of Cricket Awards.

ACST Chairman, Michael ‘Cat’ Maher summed up the tournament after play. “I am delighted to see so many players from across the world come together and put on a great exhibition of cricket that was played in brilliant spirit. I would like to thank the Phuket Cricket Group and Alan Cooke for their invaluable assistance with the event as well as all our wonderful sponsors and amazing volunteers and officials who have formed a formidable team to ensure that we had yet another tournament to be proud of. Here’s to 2017!”

The ACST move to the south of Phuket next week to stage the 5^th annual Kata International Cricket 7’s, from Wednesday 20^th to Friday 22^nd April.

For further details, please contact Mr Maher at mmaher.padmir@bigpond.com or by telephone on +61 407 385 481.

Warriors Continue to Shine at the ACG

Day Three Wrap - Saturday 16th April 2016

Warriors Qatar stole the show by overtaking Kuwait Eagles at the top of the standings as the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour (ACST) 13th Phuket international Cricket Sixes moved into Round Two at the Alan Cooke Ground on Saturday 16th April in hot and humid conditions.

The top eight sides from Round One played an extra game each, with their points total carried forward to determine whether they would be competing in the top ranked Cup competition, or the Bowl on Finals Day.

Warriors hammering of Gauhati Town, with continued efforts from Muhammad Hadi and Sandeep Kottary saw them leapfrog Kuwait Eagles, despite that side’s fine win over Cricket Club of Dibrugarh thanks in part to an effortless 30 not out from Amir Javed.

Southern Stars of country Victoria secured a semi-final berth in the Cup thanks to victory over Kuwait Hawks, who had to settle for a place in the Bowl. Yarraleen Lions secured the final Cup spot as CBB’s were overcome as both Chaminda and Danusha reached retirements, despite a fine effort in defeat by Dixie Joy.

The bottom five ranked sides were in competition to see who would reach the finals of the Plate and Shield on Sunday lunchtime. With a game still to be played on Finals Day morning, a couple of Saturday wins for local side Madras Curry House and single victories for DBCC Silverbackz and Aussie Zen lifted their hopes, while two defeats each for Katherine Bushrangers and Fine Legs of Singapore left them taking up the last two places in the standings.

The game between Phuket side Aussie Zen and the Bushrangers from Australia’s Northern Territory saw fine batting performances from Ibrahim and Greg Kemp. Ali Kahn was another Phuket man in form with the willow for the Madras Curry House.

Day 3 was completed with a T20 match between a Kuwait XI led by major supporter Mahmoud Abdullah and a World XI, which comprised of players from the tournament as selected by ACST Chairman, Michael ‘Cat’ Maher.

Anthony Van Blerk, Chairman of the Phuket Cricket Group (PCG), who have offered huge assistance to the ACST in the staging of the event was very happy at the end of the day’s play. “It has been superb to welcome teams from far and wide to the Alan Cooke Ground. There has been some fantastic cricket and many friendships have been established”

Finals Day will commence on Sunday at 9.45am, with spectators welcome at the ACG. Admission is free and refreshments are available.

Day Two Wrap - Friday 15th April 2016

Warriors Qatar smash a 100 to continue their excellent Round One form

Friday 15^th April saw another fantastic day’s cricket at the Alan Cooke Ground in the 13^th Phuket International Cricket Sixes, which forms part of the Phuket Cricket Week. The event has attracted sides from Northern Territory and Victoria in Australia, as well as teams representing Phuket, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Qatar and Kuwait, with supporters and officials flying in from across the globe.

The sun shone brightly throughout the day as the players lit up the event with some magnificent action with bat, ball as well as in the field, where some brilliant catches were taken.

Warriors Qatar once again put down a firm marker as they hammered Discovery Bay Silverbackz to end round one in second position as Muhammad Hadi and Sandeep Kottary blasted their way to retirements. Kuwait Eagles also ended the first stage unbeaten, finishing top of the pile on net run rate after seeing off international outfit CBB’s.

The tightest games of the day saw thrilling finishes as Silverbackz defeated local side Aussie Zen off the last ball. This was followed by a dramatic win by Kuwait Hawks over Gauhati Town, with the Hawks somehow compiling 21 to snatch victory in the final over.

Katherine Bushrangers had a busy schedule upon arrival, with defeats against an excellent Yarraleen Lions performance and against Phuket side Madras Curry House before taking the spoils against Fine Legs in the final game of the day.

In other matches on Friday Gauhati Town defeated Fine Legs, Cricket Club of Dibrugarh beat Madras Curry House with the aid of a retirement from Salim Ahmed and Southern Stars saw off the Silverbackz with skipper Dylan Aspland closing out the game with a brilliant final over.

Teams were separated into three divisions at the close of play for the remainder of the event, to compete in the Cup, Bowl and Plate competitions before they headed off to Emmy’s in Bangtao for a social occasion to complement Thursday evening’s activities at the Kamala Beergarden.

Play will commence at 9.45am on Saturday. Spectators are welcome, admission is free and refreshments are available.

Kuwait Eagles Fly High at the Alan Cooke Ground

Day One Wrap - Thursday 14th April 2016

Kuwait Eagles, who form part of Mahmoud Abdullah’s MG7 Cricket Club were the stand out team on Day One of the 13th staging of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes.

The Eagles, with Murad Khan leading the way with some scintillating strokeplay, are one of thirteen sides from across many nations taking part in the event. They handed out beatings to Yarraleen Lions and an experienced Gauhati Town outfit.

Debutants Warriors Qatar also came away with two wins against local side Aussie Zen and then Victorian team, Southern Stars with Sandeep Kottary and Muhammad Hadi putting in fine performances.

Long term favourites the CBB’s put in a couple of excellent team efforts to see off Fine Legs of Singapore and Kuwait Hawks; with the latter game seeing father and son; Mahmoud and Jawad Abdullah take to the field for the Hawks, to the pleasure of the watching crowds.

Cricket Club of Dibrugarh of Assam in India went away with a couple of defeats in their first day at Phuket, but won many friends with their attitude against Kuwait Hawks and Yarraleen Lions.

Southern Stars saw off the challenge of Aussie Zen in the day’s other encounter.

Tournament Referee, Ian Liddell was delighted with progress on Day One. “There was some superb all round cricket played on a first class deck at a fabulous venue. I’m already looking forward to Day Two.”