Almora:
An exciting and closely contested cricket match took place today at Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Stadium in Almora between the District Administration team (DM Eleven) and Almora Police. The 20-over match ended in a dramatic tie, with both teams scoring 140 runs each. A large number of spectators gathered at the stadium to cheer for their favorite players, creating a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
DM Eleven won the toss and chose to bat first. However, their start was shaky as District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey, who opened the innings with Ankit Badoni, was dismissed early after scoring just 5 runs. The innings was then stabilized by Sub-Divisional Magistrate of Dwarahat, Sunil Kumar Raj, who played a brilliant knock of 63 runs. Displaying superb strokeplay across the field, he brought the team into a strong position. Sagar Bisht contributed a quick 22 runs, while Ankit Badoni and Sunder Kumar added 14 and 13 runs respectively. DM Eleven managed to put up a total of 140 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
In the bowling department, Irfan Khan and Saurabh Kumar were the stars for Almora Police, each claiming three wickets and effectively containing the run rate of the DM Eleven. Senior Superintendent of Police Devendra Pincha also chipped in with a crucial wicket.
Chasing 141 to win, the Almora Police team had a shaky start, losing key wickets early in the innings. However, middle-order batsmen Chandan Pinari and Madan Mohan revived their team’s hopes with a spirited performance. Chandan played a blistering innings of 40 runs off just 16 balls, while Madan Mohan added 26 runs. Their partnership brought the Police team back into contention, and for a while, it seemed they would clinch victory comfortably.
However, the match took a dramatic turn in the 18th over when Sagar Bisht bowled a game-changing spell. He took three quick wickets, halting Almora Police’s momentum and turning the tide back in favor of DM Eleven. Ultimately, the Police team was bowled out for exactly 140 runs, resulting in a thrilling tie.
In bowling for DM Eleven, Himanshu stood out with four wickets, followed by Sagar Bisht with three and Ankit Badoni with two.
After the match, both District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey and Senior Superintendent of Police Devendra Pincha praised the players for their commendable performances and congratulated them for displaying true sportsmanship. The event was also graced by Divisional Forest Officer Deepak Singh, Chief Development Officer Divesh Shashni, and Joint Magistrate of Ranikhet Rahul Anand.
The match concluded in a peaceful and spirited manner, setting a fine example of camaraderie and harmony between the district administration and the police department in Almora.
