UCC sail into MNCA Plate tourney final, get Super Plate Group promotion
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 19 2022: UCC, Uripok rode on Roshan Das half century to seal the 6th MNCA Plate Tournament final ticket and earn promotion into the Super Plate Group with a 44-run semi-final win against IBSA, Yumnam Leikai here at Langthabal Public Ground.

IBSA, Yumnam Leikai won the toss and chose wisely to field first keeping the morning drizzle in the mind but it could not deter UCC from making it to the final as Roshan Das hit a half century to ensure his team post a total 152 runs before Thokchom Yoihenba picked three wickets to help UCC bundle IBSA out for 108.Put in to bat first, UCC suffered an early jolt as Moirangthem Satish was caught behind wicket by Usham Gunabanta on Karan Prajapati's first delivery of the innings.

However, Sagolshem Nelson (26 off 50 balls) and Roshan Das (62 off 68 balls; 5x4) soaked up the early pressure and forged a 99-run second wicket partnership off 116 balls.

After Pritamkumar of IBSA broke the significant partnership by bowling out Nelson in the 20th over, Karan Prajapati scalped wickets of Roshan Das and Thangjam Anson (0) in the next over to complete his three wicket haul (3/15 in 6 over).

UCC further slipped to 106 for 5 in 22 overs as RK Pritamkumar removed Durgesh Sharma for 7 before Konsam Gulson (14 off 21 balls) and Shyamkumar Ray (20 off 17 balls) played sensibly and helped UCC amass 152 runs for 8 in 30 overs (truncated) .

Needing 153 for the win, IBSA had a cautious start and were 20 for no loss till the fifth over but Nongmeikapam Komol Singh (10 off 17 balls) who had struck two fours was caught behind by UCC wicketkeeper Moirangthem Satish Kumar on Arnold Leishanthem's 2nd delivery of the 6th over.

As Moirangthem Sunanda (23) and Rajababu (44 off 59 balls) looked to resurrect the IBSA chase, Konsam Gulsan Singh caught and bowled Sunanda for the second wicket in the 11th over as the scoreboard read 53.UCC's star bowler Thokchom Yoihenba then removed Robinson Sapam and RK Pritamkumar cheaply in the 14th and the 18th overs to leave IBSA struggling at 73 for 4.Even as Rajababu held his ground firm, he saw Usham Gunabanta getting run out by Arnold, Manoj Sahani remove by Roshan Das for.

a 2-ball duck before Yoihenba completed his haul of three wickets (3/14) by dismissing Romeo to reduce IBSA to 80 for 7 after 22 overs and make it clear that the chase was almost impossible.

Despite his attempt to cling on Rajababu got deceived by Roshan Das whose ball kissed the outside edge and went to wicketkeeper Moirangthem Satishkumar who stumped to set up Rajababu run out on the way to his 45 runs in the 29th over.

Diamond Moirangthem then took the honour to clean up the last two batters- Karan Prajapati and Kangabam Ramananda both on 1 in the last over and wrapped up the innings at 108.Roshan Das who scored a half century and picked one wicket was eventually named man of the match.

UCC will either play CDC, Sagolband or KIYC, Kshetrigao in the final.

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