GUWAHATI, Feb 28 � An unbeaten 66 by Sunil Ranjan Gogoi and his 106-run opening wicket partnership with Manas Jyoti Gogoi (33) enabled City Cricket Club to beat Navajyoti Club by eight wickets in the first semifinal of the NEEDS organised Uma Charan Bania Trophy T20 Day/Night Cricket Tournament at the Judges� Field here today.
Opting to bat first Navajyoti were all out for 125 in 19.2 overs as Shuhel Rehman ripped through their batting line up with a four-wicket haul. Sanzow Brahma was their leading scorer with 28 while Abhinav Konwar added 22.
Chasing the target City made a positive start and the openers added 106 runs in 15 overs. But a late charge by the Navajyoti bowlers put City in a tight corner. However, they managed to hit the winning run with four balls to spare.
Sunil�s 66 came off 60 deliveries which was studded with five fours and a six.
Earlier, in the quarterfinals yesterday, City defeated Gauhati Town Club by five wickets while Bud Cricket Club downed River Rine by seven wickets.
The final will be played tomorrow between City CC and the winners of Bud CC and Ankurjyoti Club.
Brief scores: (Q/F) GTC 123/9 (Dimbeswar Bora 24, Mrigen Talukdar 20, Abhay Yadav 3/21, Bhaskar Bora 2/13, Shuhel Rahman 2/2/14). City CC 125/5 (Sunil Ranjan Gogoi 37, Manas J Gogoi 26, Bipul Koch 2/28).
River Rine 115/9 (Sanjay Dutta 33, Rajesh Bedi 20, Dipak Gohain 3/18, Jogeswar Bhumij 2/28). Bud CC 119/3 (Manoj Malo 33, Mukut Kalita 30, Sarupam Purkayastha 25, Nitul Ali 3/15).
(S/F) Navajyoti 125 (Sanzow Brahma 28, Abhinav Konwar 22, Shuhel Rehman 4/10, Abhay Yadav 2/25). City CC 126/2 (Sunil Ranjan Gogoi 66 n.o, Manash Jyoti Gogoi 33, Vikash Chetri 2/12).
