A delightful innings of 41 from Lensbirth N Marak helped East Garo Hills District Cricket Association to victory by 12 runs against Tura DCA in Zone 2 of the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s U-19 Boys Inter District Cricket Tournament today.
There was, however, disappointment in Umbuda, Nongpoh, after brilliant batting from East Jaintia Hills DCA and Shillong Cricket Association B was curtailed by the rain and the Zone 1 Group A match ended in a no result.
The Zone 2 game was reduced to only 10 overs a side but even this was a relief after the previous two fixtures had been abandoned due to bad weather in Salpara, Mendipathar.
Today saw EGH bat first on winning the toss and they were restricted to 57/7. Lensbirth’s innings of 41 from 30 deliveries (2x4s, 3x6s) was of such importance that it made up more than two-thirds of all the runs his team scored and the next highest batting contribution by a team mate was just 4.
Tura’s bowlers were otherwise on top, with Fernando Barbaryo M Sangma returning the best figures of 2/4. Lensbirth singlehandedly saved the innings and was duly named Player of the Match after the game.
In the chase, Tura were 19/4 before Harshit Prasad’s unbeaten 14 gave them some hope of a turnaround but, in the end, they were kept down to 45/6 in 10 overs. Jeristho (2/7) and Paisal Ali (2/13) were the most successful bowlers.
The other game was shaping up to be a real run-fest, with EJH going at 9 runs an over as they posted 271/8 in a reduced 30 overs after winning the toss and batting first. The runs flowed right from the get-go, with 76 being put on for the first wicket by Amarjeet Gupta (56 from 61 with 6x4s, 4x6s) and Jeffre Chyrmang (38 from 30 with 6x4s, 2x6s).
Another big partnership came between the fourth wicket pair between Luckystar Dhar (56 from 49 with 7x4s, 3x6s) and Peterson Sangma (40 from 18 with 3x4s, 4x6s), who made 60 together. A few wickets in the latter part of the innings curtailed EJH’s hopes of 300 but they were nevertheless able to post a very challenging total. Bishes Chetri was the star of SCA-B’s bowling attack, with 2/27 in an economical 6 overs.
Despite the huge target, SCA-B set about the task very well with an unbroken opening stand of 46 from 5.3 overs when the rain fell. Shubham Rasaily was not out on 33 from 23 deliveries (3x4s, 3x6s) and Manthan Dey not out on 9 from 10 balls.
The next match will be held on Monday when West Khasi Hills DCA take on West Jaintia Hills DCA in Zone 1’s Group B.
