Match 1: GAMBLERS SC-A vs Oeiras CC

The first match of the day, at the Santarém Cricket Ground, featured a thrilling encounter between GAMBLERS SC-A and Oeiras CC. GAMBLERS SC-A won the toss and opted to bat first, looking to set a challenging target.

GAMBLERS SC-A’s innings began with a solid partnership between their openers, Kuldeep Gholiya and Mayank Darji. Gholiya led the way with an impressive 58 off 44 balls, supported by Darji, who contributed 53 off 40 balls. This partnership laid a strong foundation for the team, and by the 13th over, GAMBLERS SC-A had reached 122/1. However, the middle order struggled to capitalize on this start. Rahul Kumar of Oeiras CC was the key bowler, breaking the partnership and triggering a mini-collapse, as he took 3 wickets for 27 runs. Despite the early promise, GAMBLERS SC-A finished at 169/8 in their 20 overs, with their lower order failing to accelerate as expected.

Oeiras CC began their chase with a steady start, losing their first wicket at 52 when Miguel Stoman was stumped by Kuldeep Gholiya off Ankush Kamboj. Rahul Kumar, who had already shone with the ball, then anchored the chase with a stellar 93 not out off 55 balls, hitting 11 fours and 3 sixes. He was well-supported by Conrad Greenshields, who scored 32 off 23 balls. Oeiras CC maintained a healthy run rate throughout, and despite a couple of quick wickets in the middle overs, Kumar’s composed innings guided them to 170/5 in 19 overs, securing a 5-wicket victory. This match highlighted Oeiras CC's balanced approach and their ability to chase down a challenging target, thanks largely to Rahul Kumar’s all-round performance.

Match 2: Punjab CCA vs Fighters CC (BGA)

The second match of the day began with Punjab CCA taking on Fighters CC (BGA). Fighters CC won the toss and chose to field first, putting Punjab CCA into bat under overcast conditions.

Punjab CCA’s innings was a tale of two halves. They lost early wickets, finding themselves at 26/3 in the 5th over, with Mandeep Mall and Deep Karthol doing the damage for Fighters CC. However, a resilient 45 off 21 balls from Simranjeet Singh helped Punjab CCA recover. Lovepreet Singh also played a crucial role with his 31 off 22 balls. Despite another mini-collapse that saw them reduced to 122/8, a late flourish from Faisal Mushtaq, who scored an unbeaten 22 off 11 balls, pushed the total to 168/9 in their 20 overs. Fighters CC's bowling was led by Deep Karthol, who was economical, taking 2 wickets for 17 runs.

Chasing 169, Fighters CC (BGA) also struggled at the start, losing opener Deep Karthol in the first over. Gursewak Singh provided some stability with 56 off 42 balls, but wickets kept tumbling around him. The middle order faltered, with Adnan Ali of Punjab CCA ripping through the batting lineup, claiming 4 wickets for 23 runs. Despite a brief resistance from Parminderjeet Singh, who scored 28 off 13 balls, Fighters CC was bowled out for 147 in 18.5 overs. Punjab CCA won by 21 runs, thanks to a combination of disciplined bowling and key contributions from their middle and lower order. This match underscored Punjab CCA's ability to defend totals with a well-rounded bowling attack.

Match 3: Malo CC vs Gorkha XI

The final match of the day started, with Malo CC facing Gorkha XI. Malo CC won the toss and elected to bat first, and what followed was a batting masterclass.

Malo CC’s innings was headlined by Muhammad Usama, who played a blistering knock of 90 off just 41 balls, including 13 fours and a six. He was ably supported by Najam Shahzad, who contributed an explosive 49 off 16 balls, and Khalid Usman, who added a composed 46 off 34 balls. The trio's efforts propelled Malo CC to a mammoth total of 259/5 in their 20 overs. Gorkha XI's bowlers were put to the sword, with most of them conceding runs at over 10 an over, despite picking up wickets at regular intervals.

In response, Gorkha XI struggled to keep up with the required run rate. They lost wickets early and frequently, finding themselves at 53/4 by the 7th over. Sushil Kumar and Khalid Usman tried to steady the innings with scores of 31 and 46, respectively, but the target proved too steep. Malo CC’s bowlers, led by captain Mian Mehmood Shahid with 3 wickets for 21 runs, kept the pressure on. Gorkha XI could only manage 156/7 in their 20 overs, handing Malo CC a comprehensive 103-run victory. This dominant win highlighted Malo CC's formidable batting lineup and their ability to defend large totals with disciplined bowling.

Conclusion

The day's matches showcased the competitive spirit and high skill level in LIGA BGA DIV 1 2024. Oeiras CC's successful chase against GAMBLERS SC-A highlighted their batting depth and composure under pressure. Punjab CCA's victory over Fighters CC (BGA) demonstrated their resilience and effective bowling attack, defending a challenging total. Malo CC's overwhelming win against Gorkha XI underscored their dominance, particularly with the bat. Each match brought out different strengths from the teams, making for an exciting day of cricket.