NAPSA, SSU to square off in Plate Tournament semifinals
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, January 29 2023:
The league round of the 7th MNCA Plate Tournament wrapped up on Sunday as NAPSA (Kha Imphal) and SSU (Singjamei) completed the semifinal lineup.
Heisnam Boney shone with the ball for NAPSA who hammered YAC (Yaiskul) by 8 wickets in their last league match and emerged Group A winners en route to the final four.
Boney wreaked havoc on YAC's batting lineup as his stunning burst of six wickets for seven runs in just 3.5 overs helped NAPSA bowl out the Yaiskul squad for 71 in 17.4 overs.
Rocky Yumnam, Nepram Richer Singh and Sorokhaibam Yoihenba chipped in with one wicket apiece.
While O Kishan (34) was the lone bright spot for YAC in their dismal innings, four of their batsmen failed to score a single run and the remaining six batters put together just 17 runs.
NAPSA then batted 13.1 overs to knock off the target with the help of Monjit Loushambam (31 not out), Mitamnganba Chingtham (31), Premananda Ahongshangbam (2 not out) and Heisnam Boney (2).The winning side lost one wicket each to Oinam Kiran and Abocha Laishram in their run chase.
Boney deservedly earned the man of the match for his six wickets in 3.4 overs.
NAPSA recorded a remarkable run in Group A, winning all seven matches to finish their league stage campaign atop their group table with 14 points.
AKSDO were run ners up with 10 points and also qualified for the semifinals.
SSU, on the other hand, notched up a convincing 74 -run win over IBSA (Yumnam Leikai) to secure the second place of Group B for their place in the last four.
NCA (Ningthoukhong) were group winners.
SSU opted to bat and set up a 186-run target for their opponents.
The Singjamei side lost nine wickets in the process.
But for fine performances from Sougrakpam Doug las (66 not out) and Dingku (57), SSU's result would have been the other way round as the rest of their batters fell cheaply.
SSU successfully defended their total courtesy of a disciplined bowling attack that helped them skittle out IBSA for 119 in 24 overs.
Sougrakpam Douglas and Shamurailatpam Deepankar Sharma picked up three wickets each while Dingku claimed two scalps and Chungkham Gugu took one to propel their side to a 74-run victory, earning them the second spot in Group B for their semifinal berth.
Robinson (39) and Heromen Ningthoujam (38) were the only performer for IBSA in their chase.
Earlier, Pravesh and Raja babu took three wickets each and Karan Prajapati bagged one for IBSA.
Douglas, who scored an unbeaten 66 plus three wickets, walked away with the man of the match trophy.
NAPSA and SSU will square in the first semifinal on February 1 at Oriental College while NCA and AKSDO will up against each other in the second semifinal on February 2 at the same venue.