CHAMP register fifth win as RULE stay safe from relegation
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 15 2023:
CHAMP Cricket Club beat TRAU by two wickets to record their fifth win on Wednesday to stay third in the standings of the MNCA Elite Tournament.
CHAMP bundled out TRAU in 27.5 overs for 140 and chased down the target in 30 overs at Cherapur, Thoubal.
Nitesh Sedai made light work of TRAU's batting lineup, racking up four wickets as Thingbaijam Nicholson and Sunder Yumnam did their bit with two scalps each.
Najarul Islam and Md Sultan Karim bagged one wicket each for the Khagempalli side.
Priyojit Kangabam was the lone bright spot for TRAU in their innings.
He scored 59 off 68 balls while fellow batsmen fell cheaply.
After their brilliant bowling show, CHAMP made a nervous start to their pursuit of a modest 141-run target.
They lost opener Narsingh Yadav for 1 off 10 balls before efforts from Nitesh Sedai (48 not out), Leikhram Johny (36) and Thingbaijam Nicholson (22) helped the Khagempalli squad surpass the opposition's total with two wickets to spare.
In the process, CHAMP lost three wickets to Anand Naorem, two to Abdul Kasim, and one each to Priyojit Kangabam and Amritakaran Yumnam.
Nitesh Sedai earned the man of the match title for his four wickets and unbeaten 48 off 48 balls.
The win sees CHAMP re-main third in the league table with 10 points from their five matches.
RULE, meanwhile, remained one place above the relegation zone in the 10th place after securing a nine-wicket victory against MODEL in a shortened match at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium.
Opting to field, RULE re-stricted MODEL to 84/8 in 28.1 overs as Langlonyamba M (34), Bijenkumar N (21 not out) and Maisnam Tejkumar (13) were the only batters who could score in double figures in their innings.
N Sarojkumar was the chief destroyer for RULE, claiming four scalps while N Denin and Jay Singh chipped in with two wickets apiece to lay the foundation for their win.
RULE then needed 11.1 overs to complete the run chase after the match was further shortened from 30 to 20 overs, setting them a 68-run target that they easily achieved with nine wickets remaining.
After opener C Ishworjit Singh got dismissed LBW by Sormorjit for a duck, Sanjen bam Suresh (37 not out) and Jay Singh (22 not out) guided RULE to a comprehensive victory.