Shillong, Sep 18: Monday witnessed the first day of the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s U-19 Boys Inter District Cricket Tournament, which follows on from the recently-concluded girls’ tournament.
Two low-scoring but eye-catching matches were played today, with Shillong Cricket Association-A and East Garo Hills District Cricket Association defeating SCA-B and South Garo Hills DCA respectively by identical eight-wicket margins.
At Umbuda Ground in Nongpoh, SCA-B were made to bat first after losing the toss and they started out well enough, losing their first three wickets for 81 runs thanks to Shubham Rasaily (22), Manthan Dey (19) and Josiah Wanniang (14).
Josiah’s wicket was claimed by Charm Marbaniang, which then sparked a rapid and sudden collapse, with SCA-B losing eight wickets for just 13 runs as they were bundled out for 94 in 16.1 overs. Charm’s inspired bowling saw him take 6/6 in 3 highly productive overs and he was subsequently named Player of the Match.
In the SCA-A chase, Kshitij Singhania fell one run short of a half-century and just one run short of victory, with his 49 runs (3x4s, 4x6s) coming from just 35 balls. At the other end was Pushkar Raj, who was out for 24 from 18 deliveries. Together they put on 64 for the first wicket. Kshitij was not there to see his side home at the end but SCA-A still wrapped up a comfortable win in only 10.2 overs.
The other match was different in that South Garo Hills won the toss and chose to bat but were skittled for 56 in 12.3 overs. No batter got into double figures, while every bowler EGH used was among the wickets. Paisal Ali bagged 3/5 in 3 overs to come away with the best figures, while his team mates Aristo R Marak (2/9), Gulgul Sangma (2/17) and Bilgrak G Sangma (2/19) claimed a brace each.
Two early wickets fell in the chase but Lensbirth N Marak (25 not out) and Aristo (12 not out) steered EGH to an eight-wicket victory thanks to an unbroken 45-run partnership, with the small total chased down in only 10 overs. Paisal was named Player of the Match for his bowling efforts.
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