National Youth Games 2013, Mahasarakam, 18-28th March

The northern province of Chiang Mai has been the foundation on which Thailand junior cricket teams have been built for a number of years, and the Chiang Mai boys and girls teams were both unbeaten and worthy champions in the cricket event at the National Youth Games which have just been held in the eastern province of Mahasakaram.
The results have been clear to see as they met each challenge by raising their game as they won their first three matches before meeting unbeaten Chanthaburi in the match which would decide the group. A nine-wicket victory ensured that Lamphun finished top of the group and faced Bangkok in the semi-finals.
This proved a step too far but the Lamphun girls were so close to reaching the final of their first competition as they made 109 for 3 in 15 overs and reduced Bangkok to 44 for 4 before some hard-hitting down the order carried Bangkok home by five wickets in the last over.
Chiang Mai are still the dominant force in junior cricket but Lamphun’s progress this season has shown the other provinces can quickly improve their standards with access to good facilities, a high level of coaching and the necessary enthusiasm and determination of the players themselves.
Ponsakorn Sirichaiyotsakon from Chiang Mai was declared player of the tournament in the men’s section while Ariya Priyakhunakorn of Chiang Mai was player of the tournament for the women.
Overall it is another notable step forward for cricket in Thailand that an event that involved 20 junior teams and a total of 46 matches could be held in a province where cricket may never have been seen before.
With ten days of intense action on the field and the many friendships made off it, cricket’s message has now truly reached the east of the country, something of which the Cricket Association of Thailand can be rightly proud.

NATIONAL YOUTH GAMES 2013- TOURNAMENT PAGE

GROUPS TABLE

NATIONAL YOUTH GAMES 2013- SCHEDULE & SCORECARDS

Schedule:
All Matches start at 8.00 AM 15 overs a side

{Venue: Takonyarng Cricket Ground, MAHASARAKAM}

Match Schedule