By Our Reporter
Shillong, April 26: Rain played spoilsport in the quarterfinals of the Inter-School Under-18 and Under-15 Cricket Tournament 2026, organised by the Shillong Cricket Association, as both matches had to be decided through tense bowl-outs after heavy showers made regular play impossible.
In the Under-18 quarterfinal, St. Anthony’s Higher Secondary School faced Madrasa in what was expected to be a closely fought contest. However, persistent rain disrupted proceedings and left the match officials with no option but to abandon normal play.
With conditions unsuitable for a full match and no improvement in the weather, officials resorted to a bowl-out to determine the semifinalist. St. Anthony’s held their nerve in the pressure situation and secured a 2-1 victory over Madrasa to advance to the last four.
A similar situation unfolded in the Under-15 quarterfinal between Shillong Cricket Academy and MPPS. Heavy rain once again forced officials to call off regular play, leading to another bowl-out finish. Shillong Cricket Academy showed better accuracy and composure in the decider, defeating MPPS 2-1 in the bowl-out to seal their place in the semifinals.
Though the weather denied players the chance to battle it out fully on the field, both winning teams displayed calmness under pressure to keep their title hopes alive.
The tournament continues to serve as an important platform for young cricketers in Shillong, with the upcoming semifinal clashes now set to draw even greater attention.
