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The sun broke through the hazy skies on a chilly morning in Delhi, as the first match of the second Dainik Bhaskar Agency and Media Cricket League (DBAMCL) 2010 tournament got underway at the Venkateswara College Ground.
Only in its second year, the League organized by afaqs!, and sponsored by Dainik Bhaskar has seen record participation, showing that it has gained great popularity. As many as 32 teams, divided into eight groups, have lined up for the Delhi leg of the coveted trophy.
Last year's runner-up and champion of the Delhi League, Mercantile Advertising faced Carat Media Services in the first match. Mercantile Advertising won the toss and decided to take full advantage of the early morning dew by bowling first.
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However, its plans came awry, as Carat Media openers, Rahul Sharma and Sahil Jaswal forged a fruitful partnership. The duo added 50 runs for the first wicket by the sixth over. Sharma soon fell to Ajay Rawat for 29, but Jaswal carried on. Playing shots on both sides of the wicket, he tried to increase the scoring rate; but unfortunately, he was run out two short of a well deserved 50.
With some scampering in the late overs, Carat Media finished at 97 for the loss of 4 wickets in its quota of 10 overs.
With a target of 98 at an asking rate of just under ten, Mercantile Advertising had its task cut out. However, the team had a bad start, losing opener Chanchal Singh in the first over itself.
But Mercantile skipper Devesh Shah was unfazed and led from the front. The right-hander looked in complete control as he drove, cut, pulled and lofted with aplomb, taking his team out of the woods. Shah remained unbeaten on 42 (24 balls, 3x4, 2x6) as he took his team to an easy win in 8.3 overs. He was well supported by Amit Ghai, who made 40 in 24 balls.
In the second scheduled match for the day, Studio Thorn Integrated Promotions earned a walkover against J9, as the latter didn't turn up. Studio Thorn earned the full 2 points on account of the walkover.
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In the third match, Turner International India was pitted against OMD.
OMD batted first, and Sachin Varma played a cavalier knock of 42 in just 18 balls. He hit four boundaries and three lusty sixes, as he helped his team to score in excess of 100 runs. Some poor fielding by the opposition, coupled with a quick-fire 13 from Kishan Chandra, helped OMD finish at 102 for 5.
Chasing 103, Turner India's innings never really took off. After Satish Tooriya accounted for Sujith Kumar in the second over, opener Ritesh Mehta and Radha Raman tried to steady the innings. While Mehta was watchful in his knock, Radha Raman showed some measured aggression, hitting a couple of boundaries and a six.
At 47 for 1 in the fifth over, the match looked evenly poised. But Radha Raman was run out in the next over for 20. With his exit, the wind went out of Team Turner's sails. Making runs was painfully slow and wickets fell at regular intervals. Turner India International was bundled out for 69, giving OMD a handsome 33-run victory.
Day one had shown some great batting and sensible bowling, but the best was reserved for the last match of the day between MPG India and Diamond Magazines.
MPG won the toss and chose to bat, and openers Anuj Sharma and Harish Kumar set the Venky Grounds on fire with their scintillating batting.
Sharma started with a boundary on the leg side off the very first ball he faced, and followed that up with a delicate square cut for four. A thumping cover drive off the fourth ball fetched Sharma another boundary in the first over.
He raced to 50 in the fifth over itself, taking his side to 76 for no loss. At the end of 10 overs, Sharma remained unbeaten on 84 off only 39 balls, with 16 hits to the fence and one huge six. He was ably supported by Harish Kumar, who also carried his bat scoring 45 in 21 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes.
As if the batting power play was not enough, MPG dominated with the ball too. Karan Bisht's testing line was too much to handle for the Diamond Magazines' batsmen. He took the first three wickets and left the publishing house reeling at 16 for 3 at the end of three overs.
MPG bowler, Prakash Tokas too joined in the fun, scalping four wickets. Diamond Magazines were bundled out for just 47, giving MPG a huge 98-run win.
All in all, it was an excellent first day's play at the AMCL-2010, setting the tone for the tournament.
For score details, click here.
Dainik Bhaskar AMCL-2010 is being supported by associate sponsors including Open Media, STAR News and All Sports Magazine. Radio partner for the cricket tournament is Red FM and outdoor partner is Bright Outdoor Media. Online support to the AMCL-2010 has been extended by Cricketnirvana.com.
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