Rabina dazzles as AKSDO defeat THAU by 6 wickets to seal 1st MNCA U-15 Girls' title
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 04 2024: Rabina Khundrakpam bowled AKSDO, Khangabok to a 6-wicket win over THAU, Thangmeiband in the ultimate clash of the 1st MNCA U-15 Girls' Tournament here at THAU ground.

THAU elected to bat first after winning the toss but were bundled out for 110 runs in 24.4 as they failed to overcome AKSDO bowlers specially medium pacer Rabina Khundrakpam who ran through the line up to return with best bowling figures of 5/6 in 5.4 overs.

AKSDO then chased down the target in 19.3 overs courtesy of a significant partnership between Bijiya Khundrakpam and Alish Thokchom.

Rabina dazzles as AKSDO defeat THAU by 6 wickets to seal 1st MNCA U-15 Girls' title

THAU had a slow start to the innings and lost first wicket at 17 as Viviene Laishram was caught at mid on by Creety Moirangthem off Alish Thokchom's fifth delivery of the fourth over before off break bowler Bijiya Khundrakpam bowled out Nganthoi Salam on 2 in the ninth over to make it 41/2 .

THAU reached 53 in the third delivery of the 12th over with opener Robeni Usham hitting Alish Thokchom for a four but Bijiya trapped Robeni lbw on 25 in the fifth delivery of the 13th over to reduce their rivals to 63/3 .

It was the turning point for THAU as wickets kept tumbling in regular intervals with Rabina leading the bowling attack.

Star of the day, Rabina Khundrakpam had her first wicket trapping Megnoria Khundrakpam lbw for 9 runs in the second delivery of the 17th over before bowling out incoming Moirangthem Yaiphabi on duck two balls later.

Alish Thokchom completed her two wicket haul (2/28 in 5 overs) in the 20th over by bowling out Lovelyn Soyam on 4 for the 6th wicket before medium pacer Creety Moirangthem trapped Thoithoibi Ahongsangbam lbw on 28-ball 17 to leave THAU struggling at 98/7 in the first delivery of the 24th over.

Konjengbam Nonibala, who came in as the 8th batter, lifted THAU to 102 in the next delivery with a lofted shot to the long off but she could not hold the ground long and was bowled out in the first delivery of the 25th over by Rabina Khundrakpam who went on to remove Anupama and RK Valentina on ducks in the third and fourth deliveries of the same over to end the innings with a five-for.

In reply, AKSDO suffered early jolt as they lost the first wicket before adding any run with Konjengbam Nonibala bowling out Langlen Ningthoujam on a two-ball duck but Alish Thokchom and Bijiya Khundrakpam combined well to forge a remarkable 71-run partnership off 76 deliveries for the second wicket to take AKSDO to a comfortable position.

Thoithoibi Ahongsangbam managed to break the partnership by bowling out Alish on 31 but Bijiya Khundrakpam kept the scoreboard ticking and took AKSDO to 100 run mark in 18 overs before steering AKSDO to 114/4 in 19.3 by scoring an unbeaten 44 off 55 balls.

Thoithoibi Ahongsangbam returned with the best bowling figures of 2/36 in 6 overs for THAU as Megnoria and Langlen finished with a wicket apiece.

AKSDO walked away with the winners prize of Rs 15,000 and a trophy as THAU settled for a cash prize of Rs 10,000 and a trophy.

AKSDO Rabina was adjudged player of the final match (cash prize of Rs 500) as well as the player of the series (Rs 1,500 cash prize) and highest wicket taker (Rs 1,000 cash prize) for picking 27 wickets and scoring 145 runs in 6 innings.

Barkatun Khanam of FORCE emerged highest run getter of the tournament with 373 runs in 6 innings to her name and was feted with a cash prize of Rs 1,000 while Nongthombam Langlenthoibi of PCC (232 runs in 6 innings and 11 wickets) was named emerging player (Rs 1,000 cash prize) .

Mata Panthoibi Association (MPA), Thounaojam were in the meantime feted with the fairplay team award carrying Rs 3000 cash prize and a trophy.