Shillong, Oct 18: Bad light spoiled what should have been an exciting day of cricket as only 7.2 overs could be bowled on the first day of the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 Elite Group A match between Meghalaya and Tripura at the MCA Ground in Polo here today.
In that short space of time, Meghalaya claimed a couple of wickets with Tripura placed on 29/2 after the hosts won the toss and chose to field first.
Earlier, before the start of the game, Meghalaya Cricket Association President Nababrata Bhattacharjee welcomed the visiting players and match officials to Shillong, noting the historical nature of this fixture being the first Elite level first-class match in the city and how fitting that it is between Meghalaya and another North East sister state.
The MCA President, MCA Honorary Secretary Gideon Kharkongor and MCA Honorary Treasurer Dhrubajyoti Thakuria, as is the association’s tradition, felicitated the visiting players and match officials.
Chengkam Sangma (1/11) struck in the second over of the day from the pavilion end, bowling Bikram Kumar Das for a duck.
Akash Kumar Choudhary (1/18) (pictured bowling) then got hit for three fours by No. 3 Tejasvi Jaiswal (13) but had the last laugh by trapping him LBW.
After two more overs, bad light stopped play. Though there was a resumption after lunch, the respite lasted only briefly and play was unable to resume after that, with both teams hoping for a full day’s play tomorrow.
At least one spectator, a big cricket fan, felt that more play was possible today.
“Bad light called by umpires after 7 overs is not justified when we were witness to bright weather in Shillong. Yes, in the morning there was some poor light and drizzle but after that it was fine. It’s ironic that players were training in the nets with fast bowlers where it is even darker than out in the middle,” he told some reporters.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association photo)