JAMMU: The star-studded side of Account General (AG) XI had a narrow escape when they registered 10 runs win against a young side of Mayank Goswami Cricket Academy (MGCA) to qualify for the final of the Rigour Cup Cricket Tournament, organised by Country Cricket Club in collaboration with Project Model Higher Secondary School at Country Cricket Stadium, Gharota, near here on Monday.
In today’s first semifinal, batting first AG XI were restricted at a total of 197 runs in 50 overs, courtesy brilliant spell from Vishal Rana, who took five for 24 in his spell of 10 overs.
Experienced Ram Dayal and Umar Alam provided some spine to the AG innings contributing 37 each facing 55 and 97 deliveries respectively.
Before this, the golden duck of Paras Sharma and Aditya Pratap Singh had made the situation grim for experienced AG side.
Waseem Raza stood at the wicket in the closing stages of the innings to make 44 runs off 43 balls while Bandeep Singh and Sahil Balwal added 18 and 14 runs respectively.
The other successful bowlers from MGCA side were Nityam Abrol (two for 29 runs in 10 overs), Kunal Chib and Sahil Mohotra.
In reply, the young side of MGCA batted heartfully with their batsmen Sahil Lotra (51) and Sahil Mohotra (24). Suryansh with 19 and Robin Singh with 18 runs were the other main contributors to the total.
At a stage the victory seemed eluding the AG team in contrast to the young MGCA side but it was the valiant effort of the formidable Mehjoor Ali Sofi who came out with a figure of four for 42 in 10 overs.
Rahil Singh with his gentle but lethal swings and cutters got three wickets.
Meanwhile, as per the organisers, the second semifinal shall be played between ACC and UCC (both teams from Udhampur) tomorrow.