TRAU overcome CYCLONE by 3 runs to seal 5th MNCA Luwangpokpa T-20 Trophy crown
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 03 2025: TRAU, Kwakeithel notched up the title of the 5 th edition of the MNCA LuwangpokpaT-20 Trophy by beating CYCLONE by 3 runs in a keenly contested final clash at Moijing Public Ground this afternoon.

TRAU had to hold their nerves as they defended a total of 171 runs of 8 wickets against spirited CYCLONE who ended up scoring 168 runs for 7 wickets in the allotted 20 overs despite Md Aqeel's 62 quickfire off 39 balls.

Earlier in the first innings, TRAU skipper Kangabam Priyojit led from the front to blaze team's highest 58 off 40 balls to take TRAU to past 150-run mark.

TRAU had a flourishing start after opting to bat first as Pukhrambam Prafullomani played a crucial role in forging a 77-run partnership with Moibungkhongbam Behul in 7 overs before he fell to Laishram Kishan on 49 (off 25 balls) in the first delivery of the 8th over.

TRAU slipped to 99/3 in 12.3 overs with Behul 18 off 29 balls bowled out by Abdul Kasim in the 12th over and Sanjenbam Somokanta 3 off 3 balls getting bowled out by L Kishan in the 13rd over.

Priyojit however hit 5 fours and 3 sixes in his half century knock to forge 67 runs for the 4th wicket with Huiningshumbam Luching 20 off 19 to recover the innings from 99/3 and kept the scoreboard ticking until he holed out to L Kishan off the 5th delivery by Nongthombam Denin in the 19th over as the scoreboard read 166.Denin also went on to undone incoming Swabhiman on duck before medium pacer Oinam Reolin got rid off Thangjam Rishi 0 and H Luching 20 and conceded only 5 runs in the final over.

L Kishan Singha returned with the best bowling figures of 2/12 in 4 overs for CYCLONE as N Denin (2/40) and O Reolin (2/22) too returned with two wickets apiece and Abdul Kasim picked one (1/27) .

In reply, CYCLONE faced early jitters and slumped to 44/3 as Somorjit Salam impressed with his pace to remove both the openers- Loktongbam Santosh 9 off 11 balls and Ningthoujam Thoiba 16 off 12 balls within 5 overs, and medium pacer Puinachandra undone another key batter Md Al Bashid on 5 in the 4th delivery of the 6th over.

Md Aqeel however blasted 7 fours and 3 sixes on the way to his 39-ball 62 to conjure up hopes of a turnaround despite Kangabam Priyojit and Sanjenbam Somokanta dealing damage on them by sharing a wicket apiece.

Md Aqeel's departure for the 6th wicket in the 17th over to Anoubam Puinachandra at 143 after forging a remarkable 31-ball 51 run partnership however proved to be a turning point as S Somorjit returned to action and got rid of Nongthombam Denin to complete his haul of 3 wickets and reduced CYCLONE to 155/7 after 18.2 overs.

CYCLONE needed 15 runs off the final over to seal the victory but the new batters- Maisnam Raju 5 off 8 and Reolin Oinam 8 off 7 could score 11 runs off the bowling of medium pacer Thangjam Rishi to go down by 3 runs.

N Denin was the pick of the TRAU bowlers finishing with the figures of 3/23 in his spell of 4 overs as Puinachandra returned with 2/34 in 4 overs.

S Somokanta and K Priyojit in the meantime finished respectively with the figures of 1/35 and 1/37 .

Winners TRAU walked away Rs 75,000 richer along with the title trophy as CYCLONE settled for the cash prize of Rs 50,000 and a trophy.

Kangabam Priyojit was also not only adjudged man of the final match but also named highest run getter on 220 runs from 5 innings and was respectively feted with Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,500 along with trophies.

Meanwhile, Laishram Kishan of CYCLONE who picked 14 wickets and scored 107 runs in 6 matches earned highest wicket taker and player of the series accolades worth Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000 respectively apart from trophies.

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