1st NECDC Interstate Friendship Tourney : Manipur beat Sikkim by 4 wickets to enter final
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 01 2023:
Manipur clinched a four wicket win over Sikkim in a semi-final match of the ongoing 1st NECDC Interstate Friendship Tournament hosted by Nagaland Cricket Association.
After winning the toss at Nagaland Cricket Stadium, Dimapur, Manipur opted to field first and restricted Sikkim to144 runs for 8 wickets in allotted 35 overs with Rex and Bishworjit Konthoujam leading the bowling attack.
Manipur, then rode on unbeaten 43 from Langlonyamba Meitankeishangbam to seal the victory in 28.3 overs with four wickets left to spare.
Sikkim were troubled from the begining of their innings and were stuttering at 45 for 5 in 13.5 overs with RK Rex removing three top order batters and Bishworjit Konthoujam and Jotin Pheiroijam picking up a wicket apiece.
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As Ashish Thapa and Lee Yong Lepcha forged a 55-run partnership, Bishworjit caught and bowled Lee Yong Lepcha for 22 runs to break the partnership in the third delivery of the 28th over before Ashish was caught behind for 41 runs two balls later.
From 101 for 7 in 27.5 overs, Ankur Malik (26) and Tarun Sharma (17 not out) took Sikkim to 144 for 8 .
RK Rex returned with the best figures of 3/28 in 7 overs which included a maiden while Bishworjit finished with 3/26 in 7 overs.
Bikash also claimed a wicket by setting up Ankur Malik catch in the final delivery of the innings.
In the chase, Karnajit (18), Md Basir Rahman (22), Longjam Ronald (16) and Jotin Pheiroijam (15) set up the initial momentum before Langlonyamba anchored well with an unbeaten 43 to guide Manipur to 147 in 28.3 overs with Kishan Laishram (15 not out) .
Ankur Malik and Tarun Sharma shared two wickets each in this innings as Md Saptula and Lee Yong Lepcha fetched a wicket each.
Raj Kumar Rex who led the pace attack and enjoyed a three wicket haul was adjudged man of the match.
The other semi-final match between Nagaland and Meghalaya at Sovima Cricket Stadium, Dimapur was however abandoned after Nagaland were 58/3 in 20.4 overs due to wet outfield.