Division 2 table toppers Jaguars CC kick-started their business end of the TATA Motors JCA League, in the first game this year, by defeating Mavecrics CC by a convincing 82 runs.
The game played at the GMIS grounds on Sunday, saw Jaguars CC batting first upon winning the toss. Despite losing an early wicket, the Jaguars reached 154/4 in 24 overs, thanks largely to a fine partnership between Dhimanshu Raghuwanshi (31 runs) and Shivanand (24 runs). Going into the final 11 overs with 6 wickets in hand, the stage was set for the belligerent Sridhar Sasikumar to take charge, who hit a quick-fire 47 runs to help the Jaguars finish at 203 runs. For the Mavecrics, Mayank and Pradeep took 3 wickets each while Keyur Moradia and Miraz Monga chipped in with 2 wickets each.
On a ground where 203 runs is considered below par, the Jaguars went about defending their total in the right earnest when they never allowed the Mavecrics to get away to a good start. Having conceded only 13 runs at the end of 8 overs, the Jaguars tightened the noose further when they took the key wickets of Miraz Monga (36 runs) and Mayank Puri (24 runs). With the backbone of the batting dismissed cheaply, the rest of the Mavecrics batsmen offered no resistance as they were bowled out for a paltry 121 runs, conceding defeat by 82 runs.
For the Jaguars, Amit Lalaji was the stand out bowler who with his off spinners, ran through the fragile middle order of Mavecrics to take 6 wickets, while Jagdeep Singh took 2 wickets.
