Amar Ujala AMCL 2012: Times Internet, Interactive Avenues, GroupM, Madison, Images Bazaar, Draftfcb Ulka and Lintas sail through in Delhi

The two days of league matches in the Delhi edition of AMCL saw both maximum and minimum runs scored by a team till date in the tournament. The record for the highest individual score was also breached, making the series all the more thrilling.

Times Internet versus Turner India

The first encounter of the day was between Times Internet and Turner India. Times Internet won the toss and decided to bat first. Ritesh and Ankush started the inning for Team Times Internet, but the latter went back on a duck. The following players from his team also could not stay for long. It was Yash and the team captain, Rajnish who took the team score beyond 90 runs. Team Times Internet gave the opponents a target of 93 runs. Team Turner, although upbeat about its performance, could not breach the target set. It wrapped the inning at just 61 runs.

Amanpreet from Team Times Internet clinched three wickets, giving away 22 runs. His team mate Yash grabbed two wickets and gave away 11 runs in three overs to walk away with the Man of the Match title. Team Times Internet won the face-off by 31 runs.

Hakuhodo Percept versus Interactive Avenues

The next match of the day was between Hakuhodo Percept and Interactive Avenues. The former won the toss and decided to bat. Opening the inning, Saurabh and Prabal of Team Hakuhodo looked determined to win the match. The openers displayed strong partnership and scored 30 (off 21 balls, 4X4, 1X6) and 43 runs (off 26 balls, 7X4), respectively. Mayank and Nipun of Team Interactive clinched two wickets each.

Nikhil, who led the batting order of Team Interactive, scored 38 runs off 20 balls (7X4, 1X6). Bowlers from Team Hakuhodo proved expensive. Prabal gave away 48 runs in 18 balls and cornered one wicket.

In the last over, Team Interactive needed eight runs in five balls. Losing two precious wickets, the chasing team needed three runs in three balls. Abhishek Punia regaled his team members when he sent the last ball for the boundary. The closely fought match was won by Team Interactive by one wicket. Nikhil of Team Interactive was adjudged the Man of the Match.

GroupM (A) versus OMD

The next encounter was between GroupM (A) and OMD. The latter won the toss and decided to bowl first. The openers of Team GroupM (A), Mohit and Praveen, supported the batting order with their measured batting. While Mohit was declared out because of leg before wicket, Praveen remained not out and finished a half century (off 32 balls, 4X4, 3X6).

Praveen also won the Zee Studio Hits contest, where any batsman hitting the Zee Studio banner (placed on the boundary on the playground) wins a 32-inch LCD TV. Team GroupM set 108 runs as target. The opponents, however, were not as good. Team OMD crumbled at 98 runs. Though Sachin Verma scored 41 runs (off 20 balls, 4X4, 4X6) he couldn't save his team's defeat. Dipanshu of Team OMD was adjudged the Man of the Match for his superlative bowling that helped his side win comfortably. Dipanshu grabbed three wickets in the three overs he bowled, giving away 22 runs. Team GroupM won the match by seven runs.

Madison versus Lintas

This match will go down the annals of AMCL as one of the most exciting matches played. The face-off was between Madison and Lintas. Setting the highest target by any team this season, Team Madison displayed excellent cricket. Lintas won the toss and elected to bowl, without knowing what was in store for them. Shariq Abdullah, the opening batsman, rained fours and sixes with the ease of a pro. He scored an unbeaten 114 runs (off just 39 balls, 14X4, 7X6). Ankur from Team Lintas proved to be the most expensive player as he ceded 51 runs in the three overs he bowled.

In response to the massive target set by Team Madison and also under psychological duress, Team Lintas didn't even breach 100 runs and wrapped the inning at 92 runs. Siddharth of Team Lintas scored 51 runs (off 22 balls, 2X4, 6X4), but couldn't do much to save the match. Shariq deservedly walked away with the Man of the Match title for his outstanding batting performance. Team Madison won the match by 82 runs, the highest winning margin in the tournament so far.

Day 2 - Interactive Avenues versus Diamond Magazine

The first match of Day 2 was between Interactive Avenues and Diamond Magazine. The former won the toss and decided to bat first. Setting a target of 142 runs for the opponents, the side also threw up a stiff bowling attack. Bowlers of Team Interactive played as a cohesive unit, with Nikhil and Nipun cornering two wickets each. Initially, the match looked skewed towards Team Diamond Magazine, but Nipun from the opposing side bowled really well and changed the course of the match.

Adding to the excitement and bringing in the nail-biting moments, the last three balls literally twisted the fate of the match. Thanks to the strong bowling contingent, Team Interactive won the innings by just one run. Nikhil from the winning side was adjudged the Man of the Match for his unrelenting bowling.

Dainik Jagran versus Images Bazaar

Images Bazaar got a walkover since the opposing team didn't turn up at the ground.

Draftfcb Ulka versus Aegis Media

The next match of the tournament was between Draftfcb Ulka and Aegis Media. The former won the toss and decided to bat first. Arun and Nakul opened the batting line-up for Team Draft, and together scored 88 runs. Arun completed a half century. He scored 58 runs (off 27 balls, 11X4, 1X6). Naresh Dutt, who's been a high scoring batsman, couldn't stay for too long and went back after scoring seven runs. Team Draft gave 141 runs as a target.

The bowlers of Team Aegis couldn't contain the runs and Deepak proved costly when he gave away 38 runs in the two overs he bowled. The batting order of Team Aegis also lacked vigour and couldn't match up to the opponent's standard. Parul closely missed a half-century and scored 48 runs (off 15 balls, 5X4, 4X6). However, the well-tuned bowlers of Team Draft made sure that the match did not slip out of their grip. Damodar from the side took four wickets, giving away 15 runs in as many balls. Team Draft won the match by 19 runs. Damodar was declared the Man of the Match.

Mudra Max versus Lintas

This match showed that even one determined player can be a match winner. Pawan of Team Lintas was that one player on Day 2. In the very first over bowled, he sent back five players from the opposing team and didn't cede even a single run. Making the match truly one-sided, he snapped six wickets and gave away just two singles in two overs. Team Mudra Max wrapped up the match in 13 runs, in the third over itself. Pawan opened the batting for Team Lintas and met the target in only five balls. Team Lintas won the lopsided match by seven wickets and Pawan undoubtedly went away with the Man of the Match title.

For the scorecard, click here.

Amar Ujala AMCL-2012/02 is supported by Zee Studio and DNA. Cricket Today is the magazine partner for the tournament.