One man stood between DPCA and a nerve-wracking chase — and he turned it into a highlight reel no one at the AIOC ground will forget anytime soon.
A Century That Stopped Time
Donyi Polo Cricket Academy (DPCA) became the first team to punch their ticket into the semifinals of the 6th Arunachal Club T20 Championship on Friday, dismantling Nirjuli Cricket Club (NCC) by six wickets at the AIOC ground in Itanagar. The match had a winner long before it ended — and his name was MD Akib. The all-rounder smashed an unbeaten 109 off just 47 balls, lacing together 12 boundaries and seven soaring sixes at a jaw-dropping strike rate of 231.91. He reached his century in only 39 balls, becoming the first player of this edition to hit a hundred. It was the kind of innings you talk about on the drive home.
NCC Set a Platform Worth Defending
To their credit, NCC didn’t make it easy. Winning the toss and opting to bat, they posted a solid 167 runs in their allotted 20 overs, losing seven wickets. Techi Doria anchored the innings with a composed 45 off 36 balls, while Jacob Takam played a punchy 38 from 27 deliveries. Dado Tachung gave the innings real momentum near the end — his 31 off just 19 balls, which included four sixes, pushed NCC into competitive territory. On another day, 167 might have been enough.
Akib Was the Story with the Ball Too
Here’s the thing about Akib — he hadn’t even finished his bowling spell before the batting carnage began. He claimed three crucial wickets for just 27 runs in four overs, effectively tightening the screws during NCC’s middle phase when they were threatening to go much bigger. Yowa Topu chipped in with two wickets as well. DPCA’s bowling unit was disciplined, focused, and clearly had a plan. They just didn’t expect their own batsman to make the chase look this absurdly easy.
Chase? What Chase?
Chasing 168, DPCA walked out with something to prove — and Akib made sure the chase was over almost before NCC could blink. Gibson Cheda contributed a steady 21 off 19 balls upfront, and Toko Techir remained unbeaten on 22 to keep Akib company through the fireworks. DPCA crossed the line at 170/4 in just 16.2 overs, finishing with 22 balls to spare. A six-wicket win that, honestly, wasn’t even that close.
One Team, One Mission
DPCA have announced themselves as genuine contenders in this championship. They have the bowling depth to restrict opponents and, in MD Akib, a match-winner capable of changing a game single-handedly. As the rest of the field fights for the remaining semifinal spots, one thing is clear — nobody will want to face DPCA in the knockouts.
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