SHILLONG, March 12: Shillong Cricket Association A gained the upper hand over Tura District Cricket Association A on the first day of the state-level final of the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s Inter-District U-23 Men’s Cricket Tournament in Mendipathar today.
At stumps TDCA-A were 47/8 in response to SCA-A’s first innings of 187 all out, still trailing by 140 runs.
SCA-A won the toss in the morning and elected to bat first, with all of their top four batsmen getting into double figures. Ibitlang Thabah was first out for 19, followed by Aman Kumar (13) and Abhishek Gupta (37).
Swastic Chettri (44) and Ashif Khan (55) provided the bulk of SCA-A’s runs between the two of them but once they were dismissed the rest of the batting order followed in quick succession, thanks largely to the bowling of Manish Sharma, who claimed 6/55. Cham Sangma (2/26) and Aniket Basfor (1/34) also claimed wickets for Tura.
Four bowlers were used by the Shillong team in the 24 overs left in the day, with Abhishek Kumar (6/16) proving to be utterly destructive with the ball.
Josiah Cheran Momin was the lone point of resistance for TDCA-A, with an innings of 32. He was the only Tura batsman who could reach double figures.
Meanwhile, Bipin Ray (1/8) and Lokesh Turaha (1/12) were the other bowlers for SCA-A who claimed wickets today.
