Winning start for ASJA, Electronic Media

By our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 24: Assam Sports Jourlists Association (ASJA) and Electronic Media made winning start in the Star Cement ASJA T20 Cricket Championship which got under way at the Nehru stadium here today. In the opening match ASJA, the host of the meet, upset last year runners up Assam Photo Jourlists Association (APJA) by 38 runs. The second game of the day was well contested and defending champion Electronic Media had to fight hard to defeat new entrant Media Magement XI by a single wicket.

In the first game ASJA, invited to bat first, were bowled out 100. Raj Kumar Sarma (19) and Tauhid Ali Talukdar (18) were the major contributors while Lakhyajyoti Gogoi (3-15) and Vishma Thapa (3-24) picked up most of the wickets. In reply APJA couldn't perform well with the bat and the entire team were bowled out 62 runs thanks to some brilliant spells from Tirtha Kumar sarma (3-9) and Dilip Sarma (2-12). Niloy Bhattacharjya was the only batsman in the team who tried to put some resistance to the opponent bowlers. Meanwhile like the first game the second one was also a low scoring affair. Media Magement XI, elected to bat,  scored 103-9 in their 20 overs. Kishore Talukdar, who was in a very good form, ripped through Media magement innings  and picked up 5-13. Bhaskar Hazarika and Deepakjyoti Sarma contributed 22 and 19 runs respectively.

Chasing 104 runs to win Electronic Media at one time reduced 4-8 before Binoy Kalita (35, 4X4) and Pranjal Sarma (31,4X2) repaired the damage adding 64 runs in the fifth wickets. Still there was lots of drama in the closing stage of the match and one time it looked like that Media magement XI was all set to defeat the defending champion. However Rajib Bora ensured victory for Electronic Media hitting a boundary in the first ball of the last over.

The iugural function, which was held before the first game, were attended by Rajiv Prakash Barua, ADC, Kamrup (Metro), Anjan Sarma, Director Sports and Youth Welfare department, Bikash Barua, the secretary of the Assam Cricket Association,  Prab Saikia, the joint secretary of t he Assam Olympic association and Ravi Shankar Rave, the executive editor of the Purvadoy.