PATTAYA, Thailand – This 4-team tournament was played in the most atrocious conditions, on one of the wettest ends to a September in eons at HSP on 26 & 27 Sep 2026. An enormous amount of dedication, perseverance and persistence was shown by the players, the officials and the organisers. Despite many umbrellas and plastic cagoules, everybody, except for the Russian dancing ladies, looked like drowned rats. It was amazing that any cricket was played at all.
The tournament comprised of 4 teams, Pattaya CC (PCC), Chakra Champions CC (CCCC), Gujarat United CC (GUCC) and Rayong Smashers CC (RSCC). The format was T10 – maximum of 2 overs per bowler and a 3 over powerplay. 4 points for a win, 2 for a tie and 0 for a loss, but additional bonus points for scoring a certain number of runs or taking wickets. The league table matches allowed 3 matches per team with the top 2 going into the finals. Well, that was how it was planned, but the weather had other ideas, thus enabling the Match Director, Mr. Simon Philbrook, to exercise serious amounts of flexibility and thinking on the run.
After a delayed start, because of heavy rain, PCC, in their new shirts, won the toss and sent in Luke Stokes and Mike Gerit to face the bowling of Laxman from CCCC. Only 2 off the over with Mike being dropped at long off. Deepak bowled next and had Luke caught and bowled for 2 as Luke failed to adjust to the slower pace of the ball bouncing off a soggy artificial turf. Andre Human replaced him and got some boundaries with 14 off the over, 16 for 1 off 2.
axman returned and bowled well for 10 off the over. Andre was playing well, but Mike fell for 10 off Harreb in the 6th over, caught in the deep, 66 for 2 off 6. Hardik joined Andre and immediately set about Dimple and was nearly caught at Long-on. 74 for 2 off 7. More 6s from Andre and a bonus point for passing 80 runs. Andre was dropped behind and the pair finished on 92 for 2 with Andre 54 not out. He was awarded the Man of the Match.
CCCC sent Karan and Chitan to face the bowling of Hardik and the partnership didn’t last. Chitin lost his leg stump, 5 for 1. Harry took a wicket in the second over as the batsmen cut to a fielder at deep gulley. Dimple took the crease and a boundary, 18 for 2 off 2. Hardik had the dangerman, Karan, caught at long on by a superb catch by Andre as CCCC struggled at 19 for 3 off 3. Andre was expensive when hit for 19 to bring the score to 38 for 3 off 4. Adam missed a catching opportunity as Dimple hit out, 46 for 3 off 5 and CCCC were on target. Tony had a good over for only 6 in which he had the batsman caught by a tremendous catch by Jainish Parikah at long on. 52 for 4 from 6. Andre had a poor over where he was hit for 19. Tony took the last over and kept things tidy with CCCC finishing on 74 for 4. PCC won by 21.
RSCC and GUCC were next to play, but I could not record the events as I was a tad busy umpiring and dodging very large raindrops. The matches were delayed as more heavy showers game through. GUCC 76 for 5 and RSCC 57 for 6. GUCC won by 19 runs.
PCCs next match was against GUCC. The match was reduced to 4 overs due to delays. PCC won the toss and decided to bat. Andre and Luke opened against DJ. Andre his a 6 off the first ball and was then caught at deep backward square. Harry went in and didn’t last the over as he was bowled through the gate for 1. 10 for 2 off 1 over. Prashant bowled next and was very economical. 16 for 2. Bobby got smashed about the ground by some nice shots from Luke which took the score to 37 having been dropped at long-off. The final over brought 7 as Hardik was runout off the last ball. 44 for 3. Luke finished 31 not out and won the Man of the Match.
GUCC had the ability to chase that number, so PCC had to bowl well. Hardik opened the bowling against Prashant and DJ. 10 off the over including a missed opportunity behind the stumps. Habby bowled very well for just 2 whilst Terry took a wicket, that of Prashant and his replacement, Darmesh in the same over with only 2 runs taken, 14 for 2 off 3. The final over went to Tony who didn’t bowl well and so the batsmen could only glean 6 runs. GUCC finished on 20 and lost by 24 runs. More delays as CCCC played RSCC. CCCC 70 for 2 and RSCC 23 for 2. CCCC won by 47 runs.
The final match of the day was PCC v RSCC. Andy won the toss and elected to bat. Harry and Jainish opened against Harsh. 14 off the first over with a 6 to Jainish. Kishore was hit all over the ground. The 3rd over brought some good shots but they were all fielded and only added 6, 46 for 0 off 3. The wind howled and the rain came down in torrents but PCC battled on for 11 off the last over, 57 for 0 with Harry 37 not out and the Man of the Match.
57 was a fair score to chase, achievable but not easy. RSCC sent in Harsh and Sadish. Thomas bowled the first over which gave a tidy 10 runs. Harry was a little wayward with 13 off his over but RSCC needed more. Mike Gerits strangled the RSCC when he bowled Harsh and restricted RSCC for 12 runs, 35 for 1 and the faintest of hopes off the last over. Habby bowled 2 no balls with extras to leach 14 as RSCC reached 49 and PCC won their 3rd match by just 8 runs. PCC would go into the finals as the leader of the league.
The second day saw a change of plan due to more rain. The delays forced the cancellation of the final but did allow for the League to be complete to determine the final positions. GUCC batted first and scored 46 for 1. CCCC struggled initially, but secured a superb win via excellent batting from Karan, who hit a magnificent 6 off the last ball, 51 for 2 to win by 8 wickets. This earnt them 2nd place in the table and CCCC became the Runners Up.
The final presentations saw awards to the officials, the Men of the Matches, and specific awards to: Best Fielder – Adre Human; Best Bowler – Prashant; Best Batsman – Karan and Player of the Tournament – Karan; the Winning Trophy – PCC and the Runners Up Trophy – CCCC.
The organisers, the officials, the support staff, food providers and teams did a fantastic job. PCC would like to thank their Sponsors, the Outback Bar, Magic Bar and Pattaya Sport Organisation for their support.
