Media Release - Phuket Sixes

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.

For further information about the Phuket International Cricket Sixes 2011 see the tournament website www.phuketsixes.com

To register interest in playing in the 2012 Phuket Sixes contact Michael Maher atcat@cricketsixes.com

An Asian Cricket Sixes Tour event

www.cricketsixes.com