9th MNCA Elite Tournament : Holders PTRC beat CYCLONE by 2 runs in nail-biting final match to retain title
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 23 2025: PTRC, Patsoi Part IV successfully defended their MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Tournament title by defeating former champions and last year's finallists CYCLONE, Thangmeiband by 2 runs today in a nail-biting final encounter at Model Hr Secondary and Oriental College ground.

PTRC slumped to a modest total of 144/10 in 31.3 overs after they won the toss and opted to bat first.

But they successfully defended their total by dismissing CYCLONE for 142 runs in 36 overs to claim two titles back to back.

9th MNCA Elite Tournament

PTRC had a sloppy start losing five wickets in 10.1 overs with just 37 runs on the scoreboard as Md Aqeel claimed four crucial wickets and Nongthombam Denin claimed one.

Pheiroijam Jotin and Chingakham Bidash joined forces to revive the innings and added 67 runs off 73 balls to take PTRC past the 100-run mark before Bidash holed out to Nongthombam Denin on 45 off the bowling of Reolin Oinam .

PTRC further slipped to 104/7 four balls later as Reolin caught and bowled Laitonjam James on a 4-ball duck before removing Konthoujam Bishworjit in the same fashion in the 27th over.

In the wake of the ever increasing pressure, Jotin held his nerve to keep the scoreboard ticking and completed his half century with a beautiful lofted shot off Loktongbam Santosh in the third delivery of the 30th over.

He was however trapped lbw on 54 by Md Aqeel in the 31st over for the 9th wicket before Kishan Laishram ended the PTRC innings by removing Pheiroijam Tamarland in the 3rd delivery of the 32nd over as the scoreboard read 144 .

Aqeel was the pick of the CYCLONE bowlers securing the best bowling figures of 5/31 in 8 overs as Oinam Reolin finished with 3/22 in 5 overs.

Chasing 145 for the victory, CYCLONE also faced early setbacks and were reduced to 59/5 in 18.4 overs as RK Rex, Chingakham Bidash and Konthoujam Bishworjit proved effective.

Nongthombam Denin and Laishram Kishan, gave CYCLONE some hope by forging 54 runs off 72 balls for the 6th wicket but Pheiroijam Jotin joined into the fray to dismiss dangerous looking Denin on 34 and broke the crucial partnership.

Rex then trapped Kishan lbw on 28 to further leave CYCLONE struggling at 130/7 after 33.1 overs.

Jotin then undone spirited Aqeel on 16 for the 8th wicket as CYCLONE closed in for a victory.

CYCLONE were just 5 runs away from the victory when RK Rex returned to action and changed the complexion of the game completely by removing Maisnam Raju on 3 and Reolin Oinam on 1 in the 2nd and final delivery of the 36th over as the scoreboard read 142 .

Rex returned with the best bowling figures of 4/33 in 8 overs as Jotin (2/28 in 8 overs) and Chingakham Bidash (2/23 in 6 overs) finished with two wicket hauls.

Pheiroijam Jotin, who played a pivotal role in the team's victory by scoring a half century and claiming two wickets (2/28 in 8 overs) to aid RK Rex in dismantling CYCLONE for 142 runs walked away with the player of the final match trophy and a cash reward of Rs 5,000 as PTRC team lifted the title trophy and a cash prize of Rs 2,20,000 .

CYCLONE meanwhile received a cash prize of Rs 1,70,000 as Kishan Laishram of the same team emerged highest wicket taker having claimed 27 wickets in 13 overs and was feted with a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and a trophy.

Kangabam Priyojit of TRAU, who scored 509 runs in as many as 13 innings, meanwhile bagged the highest run getter award carrying a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and a trophy.

Brief Scores PTRC : 144/10 in 31.3 overs (Jotin 54, Bidash 45; Md Aqeel 5/31, O Reolin 3/22)
CYCLONE : 142/10 in 36 overs (Denin 34, Kishan 28, N Thoiba 28; RK Rex 4/33, Jotin 2/28 and Bidash 2/23) .