The victorious Pratidin team with their trophies in Guwahati on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

MEDIA CRICKET

Guwahati, April 1: Pratidin annexed the Guwahati Press Club’s inter-media cricket title, defeating Outstation XI by 79 runs in the final at the Latasil playground here today.

Batting first, Pratidin piled up 231 for three in the stipulated 20 overs with Rajib Kalita cracking a swashbuckling century. In reply, the Outstation side could manage 152 for four, thanks to some tight bowling by Gitartha Dutta, Rajib Kalita and Rana Sarma.

Man-of-the-Series Tauhid Ali Talukdar and Rajib Kalita put up a solid 149-run partnership after Pratidin’s batting mainstays Jagjit Singh lost his wicket to a Rajib Borah yorker for four runs and Amal Das (35) lobbed a catch to Debajit Thakur.

Man-of-the-Match Kalita hammered the bowlers to all corners of the ground en route to his 105, while Talukdar remained unbeaten on 50. Wicketkeeper Niloy Bhattacharya had Kalita stumped off a slow delivery by Sanjay Kalita during the slog overs.

Kalita was also adjudged the best bowler of the tournament, while Jagjit Singh was named the best batsman.

Chasing the mammoth target, Outstation XI lost two vital wickets in the first over and another wicket in the fourth over.

However, the middle-order steadied the innings, stealing quick singles and twos and sending the loose deliveries to the boundary.

Winners Pratidin lifted the Nilimoy Choudhury Trophy and got Rs 5,000 and a television set. The runners-up team lifted the Al-Farid Sajjad Trophy and Rs 3,000 in cash. Janambhumi XI was awarded the Bina Bordoloi Fairplay Trophy.

State social welfare minister and Assam Cricket Association president Gautam Roy, transport minister Anjan Dutta, ACA secretary Bikash Baruah and veteran sportsman Pulin Das attended the closing ceremony.