Moreh, January 05: South Indian Cricket Team (SICT) defeated Al Amin Youth Club (AAYC) by four wickets to join Meetei Council Cricket Team, Bachelor�s Youth Welfare Association and Sunrise Youth Club (Junior) in the semi final round of the Pongal Cricket Tournament being played at SRYC ground, here.

The super six tie today, witnessed an exciting encounter with neither side willing to concede defeat as victory meant automatic place in the semis.

Set a seemingly unassailable target of 199 in the 30 over game, SICT�s opening pair of Mariyappan and Peter Paul played intelligent cricket rotating strike and keeping the score board ticking thereby seldom giving the Al Amin strike bowlers to settle down.

After Mariyappan was run out for 21 runs leaving the team score on 85 for one in the 15th over, Sasang Gangte joined Paul and further consolidated the team�s position with some sensible knock before Sasang exited after scoring 32 runs.

Peter Paul, who steadied the SICT inning with another well deserved half century - his second of the competition - departed with his personal score of 61 runs off 82 balls, the team was left still requiring 22 runs from 16 deliveries with five wickets intact.

Then walked in Stephen in the critical stage and soon after began to wield the willow like a scythe hitting two consecutive fours and a huge six that ultimately tilted the match SICT�s way.

Nashir Khan was the most AAYC bowler with three wickets.

Earlier winning the toss and electing to bat first, AAYC piled 198 runs helped by a 66 ball 53 from Nashir and 28 (20) by Ashraf Ali as the chief contributors to the team total.

Suno took four AAYC scalps.

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