Match 1: Spartans Cricket Club vs Team Tigers Portugal

The first match of the day took place at the Santarém Cricket Ground, featuring Spartans Cricket Club against Team Tigers Portugal. Team Tigers Portugal won the toss and opted to field first, a decision that quickly paid dividends.

Spartans Cricket Club struggled from the outset against a disciplined bowling attack. Their innings began poorly, losing Riasat Azam Sourov for a duck in the very first over, trapped LBW by Jibon Naidu. Captain Arzun Kumar Singha tried to stabilize the innings but could only manage 12 off 23 balls before falling to Shuvo Biswas. The rest of the top and middle order faltered under pressure, with only a few players reaching double figures. Mukarram Hosen and Shamir Debnath tried to offer some resistance with 7 and 11 runs, respectively, but it wasn’t enough. Spartans managed to scrape together a total of 82/8 in their 17 allotted overs, as rain interrupted the match, reducing it from the standard 20 overs per side.

Shuvo Biswas was the star with the ball for Team Tigers Portugal, claiming 3 wickets for just 10 runs in his 3 overs, while Mahmudul Khan and Suman chipped in with crucial wickets, ensuring that Spartans Cricket Club never got into a rhythm.

Chasing a modest target of 83, Team Tigers Portugal approached their innings with confidence. Suman led the way with a composed 35 off 26 balls, including 3 fours and a six, setting the foundation for a comfortable chase. Despite losing his partner, Asif Ataur, for 22 and then Suman himself, the result was never in doubt. Foyez Uddin Ahmed and Tushar Shah ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding the team to victory in just 10.1 overs with 8 wickets in hand. The victory was a testament to Team Tigers Portugal’s dominance, showcasing both their bowling prowess and batting depth.

With this win, Team Tigers Portugal cemented their position at the top of the table, continuing their strong run in the tournament.

Match 2: Tiger Strikers vs Precious XI

The second match of the day featured Tiger Strikers against Precious XI. Tiger Strikers won the toss and elected to bat first, hoping to set a challenging target for their opponents.

The innings began steadily for Tiger Strikers, with captain Md Abujar Liton scoring 25 off 24 balls. However, they lost wickets at regular intervals, with Rasel Khan and Saikat Chowdhury failing to capitalize on their starts. The middle order, led by Mohammed Jahid Hasan, provided some stability with a well-constructed 47 off 34 balls, but he lacked support from the other end. Precious XI’s bowlers, particularly Bunty Takhi and George, were instrumental in keeping the scoring rate in check. Bunty Takhi’s 4-over spell was particularly economical, conceding just 10 runs and picking up a crucial wicket. Tiger Strikers could only muster 127/5 in their 20 overs, a total that seemed below par on a good batting track.

Precious XI’s chase was clinical. George opened the innings and played a masterful knock, scoring an unbeaten 51 off 34 balls. His innings was characterized by seven boundaries and a six, ensuring that the chase remained on track. Bunty Takhi continued his all-round performance by contributing 47 off 24 balls, which included 10 boundaries. Despite losing Ghulam Dastgir early for just 9 runs, Precious XI faced little resistance and cruised to victory, reaching 128/2 in just 12.1 overs. This 8-wicket win highlighted the gulf between the two teams on the day, with Precious XI outclassing Tiger Strikers in every department.

With this victory, Precious XI climbed up the table, showing their intent to challenge the top teams as the tournament progresses.

Match 3: Oeiras CC 2nd XI vs Rangers Cricket Club

The final match of the day took place at the Santarém Cricket Ground, with Oeiras CC 2nd XI facing off against Rangers Cricket Club. Oeiras CC 2nd XI won the toss and chose to bat first, hoping to post a competitive total.

Their innings, however, got off to a disastrous start. After losing Sameer Pirani and George Masih early, the team struggled to find momentum. Faisel Yaqoob was the lone warrior for Oeiras CC 2nd XI, scoring a resilient 54 off 41 balls, including 10 boundaries. His efforts were in vain, as wickets tumbled around him. Sk Ashraful Islam and Mirza Noman Ahmed were the main destroyers, picking up 2 wickets each, while Taher Ahmed finished with remarkable figures of 4 wickets for just 11 runs. Oeiras CC 2nd XI was bundled out for a paltry 107 in 15.3 overs, well below a par score.

Rangers Cricket Club’s chase started cautiously. They lost early wickets, with Sehwag Martin, Taher Ahmed, and Sk Ashraful Islam all departing cheaply, leaving the score at 29/2. However, a composed innings from Mirza Noman Ahmed, who scored 43 off 23 balls, steadied the ship. His partnership with Fazal Haque Rabbi (19 not out off 11 balls) ensured that Rangers Cricket Club reached the target comfortably. Despite losing 5 wickets, they finished at 113/5 in 13.1 overs, securing a 5-wicket victory.

This win was crucial for Rangers Cricket Club as it allowed them to move up the table, giving them momentum as they look to climb further in the standings.

Conclusion

The matches on August 24, 2024, showcased a mix of dominant performances and strategic victories. Team Tigers Portugal and Precious XI both secured emphatic wins, highlighting their potential as strong contenders in the tournament. Rangers Cricket Club’s win over Oeiras CC 2nd XI also demonstrated their ability to recover from early setbacks and chase down challenging targets. These results have further intensified the competition in the LIGA BGA DIV 2 2024, with teams jostling for positions at the top of the table.