Shantipur AC players pose with the Ankurjyoti Challenge Cricket trophy at Latasil ground on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Dec. 20: Shantipur AC today won the 16th Ankurjyoti Challenge Cricket Championship, held in the memory of Biswanath Ghosal and Amulya Das, by a wicket, defeating a valiant Gauhati Town Club in the final.

The match, which was under a cloud over the participation of ICL-contracted players for Shantipur till this morning, was reduced to a one-sided contest at the end of the first half. The Shantipur bowlers (142/9 in 29.3 overs) restricted Gauhati Town Club to 138 in 27.4 overs. In reply, the Shantipur batsmen quickly marched to 102 for six.

However, the tables turned with the fall of three quick wickets, leaving Shantipur stranded at 124 for nine. But last man Ibrahim Ali (14 not out) and out-of-favour Ranji player R.K. Yadav (four not out) held on their nerves to see the team achieve the target in 29.3 overs. Ali hit a lofted four to midwicket to bring the win, much to the relief of his tense mates.

Earlier, Yadav had claimed four wickets for 17 runs. He was well supported by Uttam Nayak and Bhardwaj Bhargav who took two wickets each conceding 26 and 40 runs.

Man of the Match Raju Das (46 off 44 balls) formed a valuable 53-run stand with Rajinder Mahato (11 off 15 balls) for the sixth wicket after Shantipur were reduced to 59 for five in 12.3 overs. Das showed a lot of character on an unpredictable pitch.

Ranji player Tauhid Ali Talukdar hit 18 off 23 balls while Nekibul Haque hit 16.

For Gauhati Town Club, Nitin Das topscored with 41, followed by Ranjan Deka (29) and Sumit Ranjan Das (16).

However, the final would have been a non-starter had Shantipur been firm on fielding the five ICL-contracted players.

Bud had yesterday forfeited their semifinal match fearing possible action by the Assam Cricket Association for playing against Shantipur, which had five ICL players in their team.

Champions Shantipur received Rs 7,000 while runner-up Gauhati Town Club were awarded Rs 5,000. The Gauhati club’s Ranjan Deka was adjudged Man of the Series, Nitin Das the best all-rounder and Monjit Das the best bowler. The promising players’ awards went to Rohit Yadav (New Star Club) and Gitartha Dev Sharma (Riverine). Ankurjyoti’s Sukumar Barman was adjudged the best batsman.