Match 1: RONIN Cricket Club vs Team Tigers Portugal

The first match of the day began at the Santarém Cricket Ground, where RONIN Cricket Club faced off against Team Tigers Portugal. Team Tigers Portugal won the toss and chose to field, putting RONIN Cricket Club in to bat first.

RONIN Cricket Club’s innings started with a cautious approach as Khushi Ram and Gaurav Sharma took to the crease. Despite the intent to build a solid foundation, the team struggled to gain momentum. Khushi Ram managed to score 32 off 28 balls, but his departure, bowled by Suman, marked the beginning of a collapse. Gaurav Sharma, who contributed 13 runs, was dismissed shortly after, and the wickets continued to tumble. Suman and Mahmudul Khan were the key bowlers for Team Tigers Portugal, with Suman taking three crucial wickets, stifling the opposition's progress.

Despite the occasional boundary, RONIN Cricket Club’s batsmen couldn’t withstand the relentless pressure from the bowlers. Ujjval and Harbaksh Sabi added some stability in the middle order with scores of 20 and 19, respectively, but the innings never really took off. The team managed to scrape together 132 runs before being bowled out in the final over. The RONIN Cricket Club innings was marked by a high number of extras (31), which contributed significantly to their total but highlighted the disciplined bowling effort from Team Tigers Portugal.

Chasing a modest target of 133, Team Tigers Portugal approached their innings with confidence. Suman, who had already shone with the ball, led the charge with a well-paced 53 off 36 balls. His innings, featuring eight boundaries and a six, set the tone for the chase. Although they lost Tushar Shah and Asif Ataur, who both made contributions of 18 and 22 runs respectively, the result was never really in doubt. Foyez Uddin Ahmed and Hasanuzzaman wrapped up the innings with 11 and 10 not out, respectively, ensuring that Team Tigers Portugal reached the target with ease in 14.3 overs, losing just three wickets.

Team Tigers Portugal's comprehensive 7-wicket victory underscored their all-round performance, with both their bowlers and batsmen contributing to a well-executed game plan. RONIN Cricket Club, despite the early promise, was left to rue their missed opportunities and inability to post a more challenging total.

Match 2: Rangers Cricket Club vs Tiger Strikers

The second match of the day, saw Rangers Cricket Club go up against Tiger Strikers. Rangers Cricket Club won the toss and elected to bat first, a decision that would set the stage for a high-scoring encounter.

Rangers Cricket Club's innings got off to a flying start with Sehwag Martin and Taher Ahmed opening the batting. Martin played an aggressive knock, scoring 25 off just 11 balls before being run out. His departure didn’t slow down Rangers, as Sk Ashraful Islam took over the reins, smashing a quickfire 50 off 32 balls. The middle order also chipped in, with Ahmed Tousif scoring 25 and Mahadi Cricket contributing 19. The innings was further bolstered by a late cameo from Mirza Noman Ahmed, who scored 23 not out off 10 balls, helping Rangers post an imposing total of 203/7 in their 20 overs.

Tiger Strikers’ bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, with Shafiul Islam being the only bowler to make a significant impact, taking two wickets for 20 runs. However, the frequent wides and no-balls (24 extras in total) added to the woes of Tiger Strikers, making the target even more daunting.

In response, Tiger Strikers’ chase began on a positive note with their captain, Md Abujar Liton, hitting 8 runs off 3 balls before being bowled by Mirza Noman Ahmed. The early loss of Liton was a blow, and despite a fighting 36 off 30 balls from Ahsanul HK Rony and a quick 31 off 19 from Mohammed Jahid Hasan, the Strikers struggled to keep up with the required run rate. The middle and lower order couldn’t provide the needed acceleration, and they were eventually restricted to 144/8 in their 20 overs.

Rangers Cricket Club’s bowlers, particularly Sk Ashraful Islam and Shadad Hossain, bowled tight spells, picking up crucial wickets and maintaining pressure throughout the innings. Their disciplined bowling ensured a comfortable 59-run victory for Rangers Cricket Club, highlighting their dominance in both batting and bowling.

Match 3: Gamblers SC-B vs Gorkha Legends

The final match of the day, featuring Gamblers SC-B against Gorkha Legends. Gamblers SC-B won the toss and decided to bat first, aiming to set a formidable target.

The innings was dominated by Lalit Mohan, who played a sensational knock, scoring 94 off just 49 balls, including 9 fours and 5 sixes. He was well-supported by Vinod Kumar, who retired hurt after making a solid 66 off 58 balls. The partnership between Mohan and Kumar was the backbone of the innings, allowing Gamblers SC-B to build a strong total. Despite a late flurry of wickets, Gamblers SC-B managed to post a competitive total of 210/5 in their 20 overs.

Gorkha Legends, in response, got off to a shaky start, losing Utsab Karki early in the first over. However, Ubayed Chowdhury kept the Legends in the hunt with a brilliant 85 off 53 balls, supported by Badal Limbu’s 31. But as the pressure mounted, Gorkha Legends lost wickets at crucial intervals. Ajay Singh Chauhan and Janak were the pick of the bowlers for Gamblers SC-B, with Janak taking three important wickets that derailed the Legends’ chase.

Despite a valiant effort from Sanam Deep, who scored an unbeaten 47 off 19 balls, Gorkha Legends fell short, finishing their innings at 191/6. Gamblers SC-B secured a 19-run victory, thanks to their disciplined bowling and Lalit Mohan’s match-defining innings.

Conclusion

The matches on August 17, 2024, showcased a mix of dominant performances and competitive spirit in the LIGA BGA DIV 2 2024. Team Tigers Portugal demonstrated their all-round prowess with a comprehensive win over RONIN Cricket Club, while Rangers Cricket Club’s well-rounded performance ensured a convincing victory against Tiger Strikers. The final match saw Gamblers SC-B emerge victorious in a high-scoring contest against Gorkha Legends, highlighting their batting depth and effective bowling strategy. These matches emphasized the high level of competition and the excitement that LIGA BGA DIV 2 continues to deliver.