T 20 Manipur Veteran Cricket Tournament CHAMP down CYCLONE to emerge champs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 23 2017: CHAMP Khagempalli outbatted and outbowled CYCLONE, Thangmeiband to win by 54 runs and be crowned the champions of the 5th T-20 Manipur Veteran Cricket Tournament played at the play ground of Oriental College and Model Higher Secondary School today.

On winning the toss, CYCLONE opted to field and put in CHAMP to bat.

With the pitch offering not much assistance to the bowlers, the batsmen of CHAMP had a rather easy outing picking the loose balls and sending them over the boundary regularly.

Wayward bowling from CYCLONE also helped the cause of the batsmen of CHAMP and Jodiba was in full charge opening the blade of his bat early and going after the bowling with ease.

Taking apart the bowling of CYCLONE, Jodiba quickly compiled 40 runs off only 20 balls leaving the bowlers defeated.

The fast scoring only unnerved the bowlers of CYCLONE and they began to splay the ball all over the pitch, which the batsmen of CHAMP capitalised on and punished all loose balls with ease.

The fast scoring continued with Rajiv scoring a brisk 19 runs off only 16 balls and managed to carry his bat through the innings.

For CYCLONE Binoy was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up two wickets in 2 overs, but other than Arun who bagged one wicket, none of the other bowlers impressed.

Adding to the good work of Jodiba and Rajiv, Sanjoy also made a quick fire 12 runs off only 5 balls and carried his bat through.

Tejbanta chipped in too with the bat and contributed 19 runs off only 11 balls and helped CHAMP reach 112 for the loss of 3 wickets in 10 overs.

Set a target of 113 runs to win the match and the championship, CYCLONE took to the field warily and did not really go after the bowling.

The bowlers of CHAMP did well to maintain a tight line and length and managed to keep the batsmen of CYCLONE bogged down with some incisive bowling.

Thoithoi of CYCLONE managed to notch up 15 runs off 13 balls and keeping him company was Stanley who made a patient 15 runs off 21 balls.

With the bowlers of CHAMP keeping a tight line and length, the batsmen of CYCLONE could not really open up and go for the assault.

Roben managed to make 8 runs off 9 balls and remained not out.

All the frontline bowlers of CHAMP contributed with the ball and apart from keeping the batsmen of CYCLONE bogged down managed to take a wicket apiece with Ratan, Jodiba, Tomthang and Premananda featuring amongst the wicket taker with one wicket each.

CYCLONE ultimately could not reach the target in the allotted 10 overs and they folded up their match with 58 runs on the board for the loss of 4 wickets.

Jodiba of CHAMP who outscored all with a breezy knock of 40 and picked up one vital wicket was declared the man of the match.

Winner CHAMP were awarded a cash prize of Rs 12,000 plus a trophy while runners up CYCLONE settled for a trophy and Rs 8000 .

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