The eighth Phuket International Cricket Sixes Tournament got underway at Karon Stadium on Thursday. Twenty five teams from eight different nations are set to play two preliminary rounds before being divided into the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Spoon Divisions depending on their rankings.

2010?s Cup Winners, Gauhati Town of Assam, India and Leeming Spartans of Perth WA, last year's Plate Winners, saw the Aussies take a fine victory as Shayne Hersey starred.

The tournament is being staged by the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour in conjunction with the Phuket Cricket Group and the opening game truly epitomised the ACST mantra of "Making Friendships through Cricket" as it featured the Singapore Slingers versus the Cockatoos of Adelaide. Earlier this year, two of the Singaporean girls had visited South Australia on a sponsored coaching trip donated by the CBB CC. The Slingers were victorious in Thursday's encounter.

St Georges River of Sydney also put in an impressive show against Leeming Top Deck while another Aussie side, Willetton Crows gave the St Francis Camels the hump with an emphatic win in their event debut. Another new side Gold Coast Falcons quickly learned of the standard of the regular sides as Corner Tigers of Pakistan gave out a lesson in chasing down a target.

Regular ACST supporter Mahmood Abdullah has travelled from Kuwait with two sides, MG7 and Skylark, and he'll be raising a glass to his charges after Skylark handed out a couple of hammerings to the Southern Stars and The Seasanders, with Audi in great batting form. MG7 had earlier seen off the Perth Postels.

The event sees three local sides competing, The Karon Seasanders, Dabangg Boyz and the youngsters of the PCDC Natives, but all three were defeated by Curtin Victoria Park, Leeming Top Deck and Skylark respectively.

The best game of the day was left until the penultimate encounter, between St George Souths Juniors United and Gauhati Town. The Indians must have thought they'd reversed their earlier defeat only for Souths to chase down 79 off the final ball with Anthony Sinclair putting in a scintillating shift.

After play the teams, officials, supporters and sponsors attended the Opening Party at the Karon Sea Sands Hotel

Play starts at 9am Friday and all spectators are welcome. Admission is free and refreshments are available.

Pic by Island Life Photos


Thursday 14 April Results

Cockatoos 40 all out Singapore Slingers 67-2

MG7 66-2 Perth Postels 61-2
Leeming Spartans 77-2 Gauhati Town 63-1

St Georges River 77-3 Leeming Top Deck 68-2
CBB Postels 65-4 Customs 45-2

Southern Stars 64-2 Skylark 68-0
Curtin Victoria Park 64-1 St Francis Camels 65-3

Corner Tigers 63-0 Gold Coast Falcons 64-0
Willetton Crows 65-2 St Francis De Sales 39-3

PCDC Natives 20-2 Curtin Victoria Park 64-2
Toorak Prahan 50-4 Singapore Slingers 46-4

Dabangg Boyz 57-5 Leeming Top Deck 60-3
Falcon 55-3 Customs 44-0

Gauhati Town 79-2 St George Souths United 80-1
Karon Seasanders 33 Skylark 36-0