Second-ever century launches Hanoi cricket into new millennium

It may be old news, but the Hanoi season began in late January. CricInfo's Indochina correspondent, Natarajan Srikanth, reports on the opening.

"HANOI (23rd Jan 2000) - Pramod Shetty, Dean Baldwin and Chung gave Hanoi cricket a pulsating start to the 2000 season yesterday at the Air Force grounds.

Pramod became only the second centurion in the seven-year history of Hanoi cricket, while Chung, a doctor-entrepreneur from Melbourne, created history by becoming the first Viet Kieu (Overseas Vietnamese) to play in the capital.

Dean Baldwin, playing for a Rest of the World side then smashed an undaunted, unbeaten 80 to take the fight into the opposition Indian camp after being set an imposing target of 202 to win in 25 overs.

S. Pan (51) and S. K. Kalra (20) provided ideal foil for Pramod as India reached 201 for the loss of only four wickets. Pramod ended up scoring an unbeaten (101 n.o)

Baldwin was given good support by Siddharth (14), the latest teenager to make a strong impression here, and Qadri (28) as his side ended up with a fighting total of 175 all out.

Pramod also took a stunning diving right-handed return catch to account for Nalleah, Hanoi cricket's first centurion, and Arvinder Singh chipped in with three wickets."

Unfortunately that weekend of matches was the last due to inclement weather. Player availability snuffed out a hoped-for match between Hanoi and Cambodia's Phnom Penh Cricket Club.