KSDO brush aside RCA; ESU defeat KASC by 49 runs
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, April 16 2023:
KSDO made light work of RCA while ESU beat KASC by 49 runs in their respective Superplate Tournament group matches played on Sunday.
Afjal Khan's century went in vain as KSDO thrashed RCA by seven wickets in their Group A meeting at Kongba Khunou Dhobi Lampak, Imphal East.
KSDO bowled out RCA in 36.2 overs for 201 after the latter opted to bat first.
In their innings, opener Afjal Khan waged alone battle smashing 109 off 105 balls for his side as none of the other RCA batters, except Syed Hussain (37), were able to reach the 10-run mark.
Shajahan and Tarique Aziz played a major role in their bowling attack, sharing five wickets between them while Lakimbur, Mohammed Shamir Khan and Sangomshumpham Shah Nawaz chipped in with one wicket apiece.
KSDO then chased down the target in 29 overs for the loss of three wickets.
Tarique top-scored with 63, followed by Reehaj (53), Abdul Rafique (36 not out), Md Raish Raza (16) and Mohammed Shamir Khan (15 not out) in their comfortable run chase.
In the process, Tarique and Raish fell to Syed Hussain while Reehaj was dismissed by Md Illiyas Khan.
Tarique Aziz was adjudged the man of the match for his 63 runs and two wickets.
The win sees KSDO move up to the top of Group A with eight points from their five matches.
They for now pip PTCC, who also have eight points and remain unbeaten in their four games, by virtue of better NRR.
ESU, meanwhile, outplayed KASC by 49 runs in their Group B encounter at Cherapur, Thoubal.
Electing to bat, ESU set a competitive 248/8 in their 40 overs with efforts by Oliver Keit (64), Hemchand Yum-kham (37 not out), Sanatomba (31), Keithellakpam Poirei Federick (27), M Bimananda (24), Chongtham Mehul (17) and Yumkham Shivajit (9) .
For KASC, Md Arif picked up three wickets, M Babu took two and Qurshid Alam, Md Javed Aktar and Md Farijuddin bagged one each.
A disciplined bowling by ESU helped them successful defend their total as KASC faltered at 199/9 in 40 overs.
Sanatomba led the ESU bowling with a haul of three wickets while Hemchand Yumkham claimed two and the quartet of Chitaranjan Sharma, Chongtham Mehul Shreth, Thokchom Nishikanta and Sanglakpam Rabikanta took one each in their convincing victory.
In their run chase, fighting efforts by Md Farijuddin (50), Md Babu (28), Ali Karim (27) and Sharif Khan (25) proved to be insufficient.
Sanatomba, who snapped three wickets and scored 31 runs, earned the man of the match accolade.