Naorem Rajningthou Memorial Trophy : YPHU top Group C with four straight wins
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 08 2022: YPHU, Lalambung defeated SHADOW , Thangmeiband by 20 runs for the fourth group (C) stage victory in the ongoing 3rd MNCA U-16 Boy's Naorem Rajningthou Memorial Trophy 2021-22 .

Winning the toss here at Heinoupok ground, YPHU elected to bat first and amassed a modest total of 186 runs for 5 in 30 overs courtesy a half century by Birbal Irom (74 off 87 balls) and Abdul Kaif (30) .

Birbal hit 4 fours and 1 six on the way to his 74 total in YPHU's innings which also saw Irom Sunny Singh (14) and Prince Kumar (12 not out) managing double digit scores.

Naorem Rajningthou Memorial Trophy

Sarungbam Nishant of SHADOW picked two wickets and Reolin Oinam claimed one in the YPHU innings.

SHADOW had a disastrous chase as they were reduced to 77-7 within 13 overs before bundling out for 166 runs in 28.5 overs despite Reolin Oinam's late knock of 83 runs off 89 balls.

Bishworaj Sharma (2/30 in 6 overs) and Birbal Irom (3/25 in 6 overs) were notable YPHU bowlers who put SHADOW batters under pressure in this innings.

YPHU's Prince Kumar and Irom Sunny Singh also managed a wicket each in the team's four successive win.

Birbal Irom who hit a half century and returned with best bowling figure of 3/35 was eventually adjudged man of the match.

With the result, YPHU finished group (C) winners on 8 points and qualified for quarter finals along with group runners up ESU (3 wins in four matches) .

Elsewhere at ABA ground in Kshetrigao, PCC, Mayai Koibi registered a 2 wicket win over Blue Hawk, Khurai for the second win in three matches and to remain in hunt for a quarter final berth from Group B .

BLUE HAWK gathered a total of 110 runs for 9 in the allotted 30 overs after electing to bat first but PCC chased down the target with 9 balls and two wickets left in the hand.

Md Atif Shah (37), Spolar Moirangthem (14) and Nongdamba (12) were notable Blue Hawk batters in their innings where in Takhelmayum Vikash of PCC wreaked havoc by scalping four crucial wickets (4/16) and Laitonjam Anjan fetched two wickets (2/11) .

In reply, PCC struggled to maintain its composure as wickets kept falling in regular intervals but Mairenbam Lucky's 40, Mathurabashima-yum Pravesh's 11 and 40 extra runs ensured they complete the chase in 28.3 overs.

Spolar Moirangthem had a successful spell of 5 overs which saw him picking 3 crucial PCC wickets and Soibam Sayonba picked two wickets but in a lost cause.

Takhelmayum Vikash of PCC who grabbed four wickets and added 5 runs was named man of the match.

February 9 matches : TRUA vs MPA at ABA ground and KCDO vs PCC at Heinoupok ground.