Shillong, Apr 25: Shillong Cricket Association (B) and East Garo Hills won their respective matches in the Inter District U-19 Boys Cricket Tournament today.
In Group A of Zone 1, SCA (B) defeated Ri-Bhoi by four wickets in Jowai, while in Zone 2 EGH beat South Garo Hills by 68 runs in Tura. Both winners thus consolidated their hold on their respective group/zone with two wins in two games.
In the first match, Ri-Bhoi won the toss but could only make 64 all out as SCA (B)’s Pushkar Raj (3/10), Basant Chettri (3/15) and Angkit Tamang (3/27) devastated the batting lineup. Reshab Subedi did his level best to post 23 for Ri-Bhoi.
The chase saw the Shillong side lose six wickets but even though the batters struggled here as well, they came through with Raj hitting 15 not out and player-of-the-match Chettri (right) an unbeaten 10. Md Siraj Ali (2/13), Bharat Gurung (2/14) and Vikram Marbaniang (2/14) took the wickets for Ri-Bhoi.
The other match saw plenty more runs, with EGH scoring 184 all out in 30.1 overs after winning the toss. Kapil G Momin top-scored with 31 at the top of the order, while Jadilbirth Marak and Welster M Marak both made 27. SGH utilised eight different bowlers, with Anup Saha (3/18) and Sundaybirth Sangma (3/44) returning the best figures.
In the chase, SGH were reeling at 56/6 but Griksil G Marak (41) and Sunbirth M Sangma (13) halted the slide, though their dismissals ultimately led to the team getting all out for 116. Player-of-the-match Bilgrak G Sangma (left) scalped 3/17, while Gulgul Sangma bagged 4/24 and Chimbara Sangma 2/26.
Tomorrow, All Jaintia CA will take on East Jaintia Hills in Group B of Zone 1. There will be no match in Zone 2 until Wednesday.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association photos)