Tura District Cricket Association fought back from a first innings deficit to defeat West Jaintia Hills DCA by 35 runs to reach the final of the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s U-15 Inter District Cricket Tournament 2023 at Umbuda, Ri-Bhoi, today.
Yesterday, Tura had made 125/10 in their first innings and conceded a 27-run lead to WJH, who made 152. Resuming their second innings today on 24/0, Tura made 179 all out, which meant that WJH needed to make 153 for victory but they were all out for 117.
TDCA’s top four batters provided the bulk of the runs in the second innings, with Aritra Paul (37) and Agatchu Chetai K Marak (39) putting on 75 for the first wicket. Ben Haden N Marak (40) and Trijal Agarwal (36) then put on 64 runs for the third wicket to get Tura past 150.
WJH’s bowlers then turned the screw and a string of wickets saw Tura lose their last eight for just 27 runs. Namewanki Pakyntein finished with 4/49 (giving him hugely impressive match figures of 9/75) and Maremdorkini Sutnga took 3/23 and Eshan Siangshai 2/20.
Having to almost match their first innings total, WJH simply could not string together big enough partnerships to get close enough to the target. Sutnga top-scored with 26 and Pakyntein hit 21 but the team needed a bit more from them or the other batters.
For Tura, all of the four bowlers used found success today, with Manthan Gupta (3/19) and Kein Hagio R Marak (3/42) taking three wickets apiece and Jamesbirth Ch Sangma (2/13) and Ben Haden (2/17) a brace each. Gupta, who bagged 5/36 in the first innings, finished with match figures of 8/55 and was named Player of the Match.
The final, where Tura will meet Shillong Cricket Association-A, will begin on 3 April.
