Vijay Merchant Trophy Plate Group Final : Manipur take 10-run first innings lead on Day 1
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 03 2024: Sougaijam Robinson forged an unbeaten 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Moirangthem Thomsan to give Manipur a 10-run lead at stumps on Day 1 of the Vijay Merchant Trophy Plate Group final after Md Danish and Naesh Hussain bowled out Meghalaya for 111 runs at Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur.

Meghalaya won the toss this morning and opted to bat first.

Manipur's pace-spin duo of Md Danish and Naesh Hussain, however, devastated their line up and bowled them out for 111 runs within 56.4 overs.

Vijay Merchant Trophy Plate Group Final

Meghalaya had a very slow start and were reduced to 57/3 in 33.5 as Naesh found the breakthrough trapping KS Marak lbw for 8 runs in the last delivery of 28th over before removing D Nandi 0 and G Narleng 0 on lbw in the 2nd and 5th delivery of the 34th over.

Y Achouba then got rid of opener and skipper RS Rathor for 49 runs in the 44th over to further reduce Meghalaya to 69/4 .

Pacer Md Danish then took charge of the bowling attack and swept the line up on the way to his hattrick and fifer (5/46 in 14 overs) and reduced Meghalaya to 95/9 in 53.4 overs .

Danish collected his first scalp by trapping Ak Lohar lbw in the 44th over.

Danish then had second highest run getter of Meghalaya H Ryngkhlem 26 removed for his second wicket in the 5th delivery of the 50th over and trapped S Roy lbw the next delivery.

He then completed his hattrick by bowling out P Ali on duck in the first delivery of the 52nd over before completing his fifer by dismissing Bj Makdoh on duck in the 54th over.

Naesh then bounced back to dismiss GJ Thakuria for 10 runs to set up Meghalaya collapse at 111 runs in 56.4 overs and returned with the second best bowling figures of 4/17 in 16.4 overs.

Resuming the day, Manipur suffered early jolts and slipped to 60/3 in 16 overs as Binson to A Marak for 5 runs in the third over before H Donba 12 and Rain 10 were undone by Ak Lohar.

Despite the early hiccups, Manipur skipper, Sougaijam Robinson who came in at three played sensibly and resurrected the innings by stitching an unbeaten 61-run partnership off 90 deliveries with Thomsan to guide Manipur to 121/3 (in 31 overs) at stumps.

Robinson was unbeaten on 56 off 82 deliveries and Thomsan was unbeaten on 24 off 41 balls.

Brief Scores at stumps on Day 1
Meghalaya 111/10 in 56.4 overs (RS Rathor 49, H Ryngkhlem 26; Danish 5/46, Naesh 4/17)
Manipur 121/3 in 31 overs (S Robinson 56 not out, Thomsan 24 not out; AK Lohar 2/33 in 11 overs) .