9th MNCA Elite Tournament : ESU end league campaign with 114-run victory against SCCC, temporarily move out of relegation zone
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 04 2025: ESU, Wangkhei Palace Compound secured a commanding commanding 114-run victory against SCCC, Singjamei Thongam Leikai in their ultimate league match of the 9th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Tournament at Lairenjam Public Ground today.

With the win, ESU temporarily moved out of the relegation zone on 6 points and quashed the top four hopes of SCCC, who further slipped to 6th place in the league table with today's result.

Notably, top four teams after round robin league will qualify for the playoffs (2 qualifiers and 1 eliminator) .

9th MNCA Elite Tournament

Hanjabam Naoba starred with the bat for ESU scoring a half century to help the team post 161 runs for all wickets down in 39.5 overs before Chitaranjan Sharma enjoyed a 6-wicket haul to dismantle SCCC for 47 runs within 19.1 overs.

Naoba hit 5 fours on the way to his fighting 60 off 87 balls after they won the toss and opted to bat first.

Sanatomba followed suit with a 57-ball 49 (6 fours) for ESU in an innings that saw Hidangmayum Rakeshwor Republic (2/24 in 7.5 overs), Bikash Singh (2/26 in 8 overs) and Khaidem Lishan (2/29 in 8 overs) sharing 6 wickets for SCCC.

Moirangthem Thomas (1/41 in 7 overs), Basant (1/14 in 3 overs) and Khaidem Joyraj (1/22 in 5 overs) were also among the wickets for SCCC before they had a forgettable chase.

Only Bikash (22 off 25 balls) was the double digit run getter for SCCC in the chase as Chitaranjan Sharma ran riot to claim 6 wickets including four on ducks by conceding 21 runs in his spell of 8 overs that include 2 maidens.

Thokchom Nishikanta (1/17 in 4 overs) and Chongtham Mehul Shreth (1/8 in 6 overs) also picked up a wicket apiece for ESU before Lourembam Dipu claimed the last two wickets to cut short the SCCC chase at 47 and return with the bowling figures of 2/0 in 1.1 overs.

Chitaranjan Sharma was eventually adjudged man of the match.