Mark Burns

Glorious sunshine greeted the teams on day one of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes being played at Karon Stadium, Phuket. In the first match of the day were the new Kiwi newcomers to the Phuket Sixes, Wearoa and the Entertainers. Weraroa looked handy as they posted a useful total of 74, with Scott Rogers notching 24. In reply the Entertainers fell nine runs short with Stu Davenport top-scoring on 32 not out.

Trevor Chappell, the former Australia batsman and regular visitor to Phuket, was in action on the first day for Lamma CC (Hong Kong) who were matched up against the Perth Postels. This match was played after a sudden deluge of rain had forced play to be suspended for around an hour. Chappell was in exceptional form with the bat, stroking a breezy 31 not out barely breaking into a sweat. Paul Hutchinson of Lamma also retired with 32, Lamma posting a useful total of 72 in a reduced-overs match. Perth Postels had little answer to the Lamma total, although they'll be buoyed by the performance of Brian Shaw who scored 29 not out. Lamma, who were rocked by a back injury to Paul Hutchinson during the match, won by 18 runs.

Another new side to the Phuket Sixes, the Delhi Medical Association (every player being a doctor of medicine) were pipped to the post by the CBB Postels. Dr Shashi was the top performer for the medicine men with 24 runs to his name, but the CBB'ers, no strangers to this short form of the game won the match with an over to spare, Kenny Jackson retiring with 32 not out.

The scheduled thirteen matches were played during the day despite the early rain with play finishing on time at 5.30pm.

Matches get underway again at 9.15 on Friday morning, with the Charity Twenty 20 match getting underway under floodlights at 6.30pm. The tournament runs until finals day on Sunday 20th.

Entry for spectators is free, all are welcome to come and enjoy the cricket action and atmosphere. Food and drinks are available at the ground.

For further information see www.phuketsixes.com