Shanghai International Cricket Sixes 2004
11–12 September 2004, Shanghai Cricket Club, Shanghai
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Despite the rain on Saturday, the tournament and dinner were a huge success. Teams battled on through the rain and into the night in great spirit to ensure completion of the group matches and set-up a thrilling finals day.
Group A was an all foreign affair, with Hong Kong CC, bolstered by ex-India player Atul Wassan, finishing top of their group ahead of Formosa (Taiwan) and CBB SK (Thailand).
Two Shanghai sides were drawn in Group B, with Mao Ming Lu and the President’s VI to take on the pride of Chiang Mai, CBB SC. Unsurprisingly Mao Ming Lu qualified for the Bowl, whilst the President’s VI were unable to get the 4 they needed from the last ball against CBB SC. Mao Ming Lu at least got the chance to play against Sir Viv, and their captain and wicketkeeper, Pete Cain, took the opportunity to show why he is renouned as the greatest sledger in the east:
Pete Cain, deadpan, “So Viv, do you like ketchup?”
Sir Viv Richards, bewilderment written across face, “What... are.... you... talking... about... man?”
Pete Cain, “I was just going to get them to put your burger on now.”
Sir Viv responded by showing he hadn’t lost any of his hitting power, dispatching the next couple of balls in the vicinity of Dulwich College... Pat Morgan the first of a number to suffer at his hands.
Group C featured the reigning champions, the Shanghai Dragons, former champions Kowloon CC Commodores, and long-time favourites Chesterton Petty, who boasted Doug Walters in their ranks.
KCC and the Dragons both dispatched Chesteron Petty — the Dragons in particularly impressive fashion, knocking off the 34 required inside 3 overs. The deciding match proved to be the most remarkable of the weekend... the rain had delayed the day well beyond the scheduled finishing time, so when KCC went out to bat, the lights were already beginning to shine out across Jinqiao. KCC posted 59, but by the time an innings of the other match had been completed and Jason Bird and John Kett walked out to bat, it was already night.
In the spirit of the day the match was always going to be played out, and a white ball was even found. The pair made a superb start despite being unable to see the ball until it was about 6 metres away... at the half way stage they were up with the run rate, by just getting bat on ball and running until the KCC fielders worked out where it had gone.
They then missed straight balls and Sanjay Anugula came in and hit a superb 19*... at least we think, the scorers couldn’t really see what was happening. At one stage he connected with a cover drive and with no-one sure where the ball had gone, managed to run six before a spectator discovered that the ball had actually gone for four... an episode that has to be in Shanghai cricket’s top five most surreal moments...
Despite John, Jason and Sanjay’s heroic efforts, the Dragons fell 2 short and thus only qualified for the Plate competition... perhaps hard done by this time around, but they had benefited from the better conditions in last year’s Cup final.
Last year’s Plate finalists, Ju Lu Lu were in Group D along with Lamma and Toofan from Hong Kong. Lamma won the group whilst Ju Lu Lu beat Toofan into second spot.
After a hard day’s cricket in the Shanghai elements, the gala dinner was a welcome reward for all involved — a packed Grand Hyatt ballroom was treated to a superb meal, plentiful wine and speeches by Doug Walters and Sir Viv.
The finals day dawned dryly to the relief of many, and Mao Ming Lu CC had soon qualified for the Bowl final against Toofan CC. However the big match of the morning was the Shanghai Dragons versus the President’s VI, both of whom had been more than hopeful for qualifying for the Cup.
The Dragons batted first and led by 39* from Paul Turner and 22 from Jason Bird, posted an impressive 75. They got off to a good start but Jason Bird dismissed Scott Brown in the second over, and then Mike Tsesmelis yorked Sir Viv in the next to effectively put an end to the Presidents’ run chase. Ju Lu Lu beat Formosa in the other Plate semi to secure Shanghai a piece of silverware.
In the Cup semis, KCC lost out to CBB SC whilst Lamma comfortably beat Hong Kong CC to guarantee that the Cup would be going somewhere new this year.
In the Bowl final, Mao Ming Lu just lost out — for the second year in succession — to Toofan from Hong Kong. Steve Gallagher and Pete Cain both contributed with the bat, and Pat Morgan and Mark Bernhard performed with the ball, but it wasn’t quite enough.
In the the Plate final, the Dragons batted first and Jason Bird (30) and Sanjay Anugula (18*) took them to 70. In response David Kagi and Tim Stuckey got them off to a flying start, taking 30 off the first two overs, before collapsing and falling some way short... the final over, bowled by John Kett, featured the unusal sight of 4 slips... and the ball was obligingly nicked straight up to second slip!
The Dragons therefore won the Plate, to complete their set of trophies having previously won with the Cup (2001, 2003) and Bowl (2002).
The Cup final promised to be a competitive affair — Lamma boasting some of the most explosive batting in the tournament, CBB SC a wealth of sixes experience. Lamma were sent in first but their batting never ignited, with former-Australia spinner Tom Hogan doing the most damage with 2-3 in his over. Despite a fighting bowling performance their score was never enough, and CBB chased the runs down calmly.
So congratulations to CBB SC, long-term supporters from Chiang Mai and deserved winners. Thanks to all our major sponsors of the Sixes for a superb event: ANZ, Bluescope Steel, Virgin Atlantic, Coca-Cola, General Motors. Also to Steinlager, AAR, Chesterton Petty, Sante Fe Relocation Services, Lucas Digital, the SCC committe and all members for making our most successful tournament yet possible... next year’s date has already been set — September 16th–18th, so mark your diaries!
Winners:
Cup: CBB SC (Chiang Mai)
Plate: Shanghai Dragons
Bowl: Toofan (Hong Kong )
Player of the Tournament: Jason Bird (Shanghai Dragons)
Batsman of the Tournament: David Kagi (Ju Lu Lu)
Bowler of the Tournament: Tom Hogan (CBB SC)
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