GUWAHATI, March 2 � Making a spirited fightback Morigaon turned the table on Karimganj team, which was in the driver�s seat yesterday and won the second semifinal of the Plate Group Nuruddin Trophy Senior Inter District Cricket Championship by a margin of five wickets. Requiring 248 for victory in the second innings on the final day of the three-day match at the Assam Cricket Association�s Barsapara stadium here today, Morigaon scored 249 for the loss of five wickets in 61.3 overs.
Morigaon batsmen, resuming at the overnight total of 14 for no loss, showed tremendous courage and mixed caution with aggression to take their side to the winning target.
Opener Jeevan Barman began with calm and scored 55 off 94 balls. He added 34 with his co-opener Nabajyoti Nath and most valuable 98 for the third wicket partnership with Nipjyoti Gohain (32). But it was the fifth wicket partnership between Saddiqur Rahman (63) and Pabitra Patar (77) which added the match winning 135 runs in the middle order. Pabitra�s hard hitting 77 came off 70 balls with nine hits to the fence. He also hit a sixer. Saddiqur stayed at the crease for 102 minutes and faced as many balls. His solid knock was studded with seven boundaries and a six.
Now Morigaon will play against Bongaigaon in the four-day final from February 4 to 7 at the Barsapara stadium.
Brief scores: Karimganj 1st innings 174. 2nd innings 214. Morigaon 1st innings 140. 2nd innings 249/5 (Pabitra Patar 77, Saddiqur Rahman 63, Jeevan Barman 55, Nipjyoti Gohain 32, Nabajyoti Nath 18, Abdus Salam 2/68).
