Shillong, April 21: East Garo Hills (EGH) and South West Khasi Hills (SWKH) won their respective matches by big margins in the Meghalaya Cricket Association’s Inter District U-19 Boys Cricket Tournament on Thursday. Gulgul Sangma of EGH claimed an incredible five wickets in five consecutive deliveries for the highlight of the tournament.

In Zone 1’s Group B, SWKH faced East Jaintia Hills, while in Zone 2 North Garo Hills took on EGH.

In Tura, NGH also batted first on winning the toss but it was a decision that did not pay off for them as player-of-the-match Gulgul ripped through the middle and lower orders, taking 6/3 in 3.5 overs, including a rare triple hat-trick, i.e., five wickets in five consecutive balls, which was spread across two overs.

Credit also has to go to Bilgrak G Sangma (3/14), who dismissed the first three batters in the line-up.

NGH were all out for 40 in 14.5 overs but then posed some difficulty in the chase, with EGH taking 14.4 overs to reach the target, which they did for the loss of five wickets. No one got into double figures, but the team did not really have to due to the small total. Gulgul, as it happens, finished as the top scorer with 9 not out.

Over in Jowai, EJH won the toss and batted first but they were bundled out for 95 in 28.2 overs. Nishikania Sinha contributed the most runs in an innings of 37. Player-of-the-match Wilson Nongrum scalped 4/15 with the ball, while Iainehskhem Lyngkhoi (2/13) and James Clifford Shylla (2/20) picked up a brace.

SWKH then lost three early wickets in the chase but the middle order stabilised proceedings, with Pynshailang Lyngdoh top-scoring with 23. Rohit Sharma (2/19) and Karan Tamang (2/38) were the most successful bowlers for EJH but SWKH, in the end, cruised home by five wickets in 16.5 overs.

On Saturday, Shillong Cricket Association (A) will face East Khasi Hills in Zone 1’s Group A, while Tura District CA will take on North Garo Hills in Zone 2.