Pankaj Tamuli

Dibrugarh, April 1: Silchar will face Guwahati in the final of the Nuruddin Ahmed Trophy senior inter-district cricket tournament. The four-day final commencing on Thursday will be held at the NF railway stadium, Maligaon in Guwahati.

In the second semi-final played at the Tinsukia DSA stadium, Silchar today registered a four-wicket victory over Tinsukia to reach the final of the tournament. Today was the last day of the three-day rain-affected semi-final.

Earlier in the day, Silchar, resuming from their overnight total of 94 for three, managed to post a crucial 15-run first innings lead over their opponents. The team scored 175 losing all their wickets in 54.5 overs.

Biswajeet Bhattacharjee who was nine not out when stumps were drawn on Day II added another 11 runs to his total and was the first to depart after being trapped leg before in the 38th over off a Bikash Chetry delivery. Arindam Chakravarty and Vishal Tiwari chipped in with 19 and 17 runs respectively.

For Tinsukia, Ranji player Pankaj Tamuli picked up four wickets for 39 while skipper Bijon Dutta, Bikash Chetry and Suruj Dutta bagged two wickets each.

As the wicket was deteriorating, Tinsukia tried to take some chances by trying to score at a brisk pace in their second innings to set a target for their opponents.

However, Silchar pace spearhead Samik Das’ fiery spell of five for 55 broke the backbone of the Tinsukia batting line-up. The innings ended for just 85 in their second innings, thereby setting a small target of 71 runs for Silchar.

Pankaj Tamuli, who came in as an opener, made 22 while Dipen Mahanta remained unbeaten on 20. Arindam Chakravarty’s figures of three for three were just as devastating.

Chasing the small target of 71 runs, Silchar openers Biswajeet Bhattacharjee (18) and Raju Das (13) shared a 27-run stand. The winning shot — a boundary — came from the bat of Vishal Tiwari who remained unbeaten on nine. For Tinsukia, Pankaj Tamuli picked up three wickets for 25 runs while Bikash Chetry scalped two for seven.