ITANAGAR, 24 Aug: Nirjuli Cricket Club defeated AIOC by 12 runs in a closely fought encounter in the 6th Arunachal Club T20 Championship here on Monday.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, NCC set AIOC a competitive target of 157, losing seven wickets.

NCC made a brisk start but lost wickets at regular intervals. Captain Techi Doria provided some stability at the top with 30 runs from 22 balls. His knock included four boundaries and a six.

Jacob Takam added a quick 19 runs from just seven deliveries before being run out.

After a few early setbacks, Techi Nega took charge of the innings with an unbeaten 47 off 33 balls, striking four sixes and a boundary at a strike rate of 142.42.

For AIOC, Lalit Deva claimed two wickets for 28 runs, while Factotum Tempol also picked up two wickets.

Chasing 158, AIOC began confidently, with Techi Tado anchoring the innings with an excellent 51 runs from 50 balls. Lalit Deva played an attacking knock of 45 runs from 31 deliveries, hitting three fours and as many sixes.

AIOC eventually finished at 145/6 in 20 overs, falling 12 runs short of the target.

Akhilesh Sahani and Tana James claimed two wickets each.

In the second match of the day, Itanagar Cricket Club (ICC) produced an all-round performance to defeat Academy for Cricketing Excellence (ACE) by 67 runs.

After winning the toss, ICC chose to bat first and made 166/9.

ICC suffered some early setbacks, but Chandan KR Singh changed the momentum with a 43-run knock from 23 balls, smashing four fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 186.96.

Chege Chubing further accelerated the inning with a quick-fire 34-run from 20 balls, hitting five fours and a six.

Captain Biki Kumar II contributed a valuable 33, while Rominson added 16 from 12 balls.

ACE chase never gathered the required momentum and they were bundled out for 99 runs in 17.3 overs.

Nabam Jamper took four wickets, conceding 39 runs in four overs. Darge Bagra took 2 wickets, giving away only 12 from three overs. Shuhel Akhtar Ansari and Loli Yangfo also picked up two wickets each.

ACE's batting struggled against the disciplined ICC attack, with Nabam Kania's 20 being the highest score. Techi Sonam remained unbeaten on 11.