RCA, TCMDC, AKSDO, Blue Hawk win as 4th MNCA Luwangpokpa T20 Trophy kicks off
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 18 2023: RCA-Lilong, TCMDC-Thongju, AKSDO-Khangabok, Blue Hawk-Khurai all secured victories as the 4th edition of the MNCA Luwangpokpa T20 Trophy kicked off at four venues today.

In the opening match (Group A) of the tournament staged at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium, RCA pulled off a 4-wicket win by chasing down a total of 94/9 set by toss winners IBSA-Yumnam Leikai within 17.2 overs.

IBSA struggled from the beginning after they elected to bat first as Zuned claimed three top order batters including 2 in the fifth over to reduce IBSA to 20/5 and bowled out second highest run getter Pravesh 14 for the 9th wicket to return with the best figures of 4/16 in 4 overs.

Riyas FCA who got run out for 17 was the highest scorer for IBSA in this innings which also saw Zamir Khan and Md Alfash pick up a wicket apiece.

RCA, TCMDC, AKSDO, Blue Hawk win as 4th MNCA Luwangpokpa T20 Trophy kicks off

In the chase, RCA too had a stuttering start losing Sohail Khan for 4 in the second over to Pravesh before Kh Nelson removed Zamir Khan 27 for the second wicket.

Boney Potsangbam then bowled out Md Anush 13 and Md Alfash 3 to reduce RCA to 63/4 in 12 overs before Heromen Ningthoujam struck Md Saad 15 and Md Safwan 17.However their efforts went in vain as their target was too small and RCA's 7th wicket stand partnership between Zuned (5) and Nawas Sharif (0) was more than enough to finish off the chase in 17.2 overs.

Meanwhile in the Group B opener staged at Model Hr Sec School and Oriental College Ground (Takyel), TCMDC thrashed MPA-Thounaojam by 85 runs.

Riding on half centuries from Moirangthem Sunanda (69 off 52 balls) and Maibam Ashokumar (61 off 46 balls), TCMDC, who won the toss, piled up a competitive total of 177 runs for 2 wickets and held MPA to 92/8 on the back of a concerted bowling effort.

Sarangthem Priyobarta was also unbeaten on 33 as TCMDC finished their innings at 177/2.MPA bowlers produced a dismal performance in this innings and it was only Nando Chongtham who finished with a wicket in the form of M Ashokumar after M Sunanda got run out.

Chasing 178 for the win, MPA had a slow start and their conditions further worsened with Huirongbam Babulu getting rid of top scorer Elangbam Rohit for 18 before Kongbrailatpam Kalyan Sharma (3/18 in 4 overs) swept the second, third and fifth wicket to reduce their rivals to 60/5 in 10 overs.

Thongam Tuljit of TCMDC too starred with a two wicket haul including the scalp of Soram Naoboy 16 to leave MPA tattering at 84/7 in 16.1 overs before Sarangthem Priyobarta removed 7th and the 8th wickets to force MPA to end the innings at 92/8 .

Elsewhere in the Group C opening match staged at Khangabok Cherapur Public Ground, local team AKSDO notched up a 6 wicket win over FORCE-Kshetrigao.

Put in to bat first, FORCE were bundled out for 111 runs despite Mutum Sushil's late 30-ball 41 and Arbin Khundrakpam 21 as TCMDC's Sanayai (4/15 in 4 overs) and Akash Laishram (3/28 in 4 overs) ran through their line up with ease.

In the chase, Bishorjit Mangang scored an unbeaten 53 off 40 balls to steer AKSDO to winning 112/4 in 15.4 overs.

Chinglensana 13 and Laishram Samson 11 also registered little but significant runs for the team.

FORCE's Saddam Ahmed Shah 2/26 was the best bowler the team had today.

In the Group D opener staged at Lairenjam Public Ground, Blue Hawk secured an emphatic 9 wicket win over KASC-Khomidok by restricting the latter to 91/9 and chasing down the target in 14.5 overs riding on Wakambam Samson's 31 and Dijen Naorem unbeaten 46 .

The Khomidok team opted to bat first but had dismal innings as they kept losing wickets in regular intervals with Semson Soibam 2/7 and Wakambam Samson 2/19 leading the frugal Blue Hawk bowling attack.

WM Rajak 25, Md Ali Karim 15 and Md Sharif Khan 14 were the only double digit run getters for KASC as N Jackiechan, Samsung Heisnam, Nameirakpam Lelil and Becker Roy of the Khurai outfit too clinched a wicket apiece.

December 19 matches
NAPSA vs SDC at Luwangsangbam; PCC vs THAU at Takyel; MPSC vs KIYC at Khangabok; KSDO vs PSC at Lairenjam .