Entertaining batting by Ri-Bhoi District Cricket Association’s Gaurav Narleng and Macdonald Makdoh gave their team victory by four wickets over Shillong Cricket Association B in their Zone 1 Group A match of the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s U-19 Boys Inter District Cricket Tournament in Umbuda, Nongpoh, today.
Hope had almost been lost when Gaurav and Macdonald came to the crease as Ri-Bhoi were perched precariously on 43/5 in 11.3 overs, chasing 186 for victory.
The match was reduced to 28 overs a side, meaning that the pair had to score at a rate of knots. This they proceeded to do, with Gaurav smashing four fours and seven sixes in his 62 from 30 deliveries, while Macdonald also struck 62 off 35 balls with eight fours and four sixes. Gaurav was dismissed in the 19th over but Macdonald saw his team home to victory in 23 overs.
Toshar Hajong was the most successful bowler for SCA-B with 2/27, while Harris Ahmed took 2/48.
Earlier, after they lost the toss and were put into bat, SCA-B made 185/8 in their 28 overs. Trinayan Dutta led the way at the top of the order with 90 from 76 deliveries (10x4s, 5x6s), while Manthan Dey contributed a handy 38 from 24 (4x4s, 3x6s); the pair put on 81 for the fourth wicket.
However, the SCA-B innings came to a stuttering halt after both were dismissed within 13 balls of each other; while Trinayan was run out, Manthan was bowled by Benedict J Makdoh (3/36), one of the latter’s three victims today.
