Excelsior Sports Correspondent
JAMMU, May 3: Mayank Goswami Cricket Academy (MGCA) Reds got better of MGCA Blues by virtue of first innings lead in the 2-day cricket match of the three match series at the Academy ground, here today.
Winning the toss and batting first, MGCA Blues scored 164 runs in 54 overs in the first innings. Suryansh Raina scored 32 runs, studded with 5 boundaries, while Paras Sharma contributed valuable 26 runs with the help of 4 boundaries. Sahil Lotra chipped in with 23 runs including 3 boundaries. Extras contributed 16 runs to the total. For MGCA Reds, off-spinner Surya Mahotra was the wrecker-in-chief, who scalped 6 important wickets by conceding just 8 runs in his 9 overs, bowling 5 maidens, while Rohit Kattal took 2 wickets and Aamir Ahmed one.
MGCA Reds scored a mammoth total of 375 runs in 89 overs to gain a huge lead of 211 runs. Aamir Ahmed scored a brilliant century, hitting 136 off 97 balls with the help of 16 boundaries, while Surya Mahotra contributed 40 runs to the total. Nitish Jamwal and Vinayak also chipped in with 28 and 23 runs respectively. For Blues, Sahil Lotra claimed 3 wickets in his 18 overs by giving away 53 runs, while Ajay Sharma bagged 2 and Mohit Gupta one.
Trailing by 211 runs in the first innings, MGCA Blues fought back strongly to score 163 for the loss of just 1 wicket in 49 overs in the second innings, before the draw of stumps on the second day today. Sahil Lotra played a fabulous innings of 103 runs, studded with 10 crispy boundaries, while Sahil Mahotra scored sedate 35 runs off 83 balls including three fours. Extras contributed 19 runs to the total. Aamir Ahmed was the only wicket-taker from MGCA Reds, claiming the lone wicket to fall. Sahil Lotra was declared man of the match for his superb hundred and 3 important wickets. Thus, MGCA Reds won the match by virtue of first innings lead.
Meanwhile, the third and last match of the series will be played on May 9, 2013 at the same venue.