ESU, CYCLONE, CHAMP triumph as 8th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Tournament gets underway
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 08 2024:
ESU, Wangkhei Palace Compound; CYCLONE, Thangmeiband and CHAMP, Khagempalli emerged victorious in the opening day matches of the 8th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Tournament.
In the match no 1 staged at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium, ESU pulled off a 2-wicket win over TRAU, Kwakeithel courtesy of Thokchom Nishikanta's all round performance.
Thokchom Nishikanta (4/43 in 9 overs) and Lourembam Dipu (3/23 in 7.2 overs) combined well to dismantle toss winners TRAU for 191 all out in 44.2 overs before Thokchom Nishikanta 50 off 57 balls and Sagolshem Ronal 46 not out off 46 balls lead ESU to the target.
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TRAU had a cautious start to their innings but slumped to 56 for 2 after 16.2 overs before Priyojit Kangabam anchored and blasted 82 off 87 balls to take TRAU to 191 despite Thokchom Nishikanta sweeping four middle order batters including Ananda Naorem 17 and Somorjit Salam in the first two deliveries of the 41st over.
In reply, ESU had a shaky start and lost Yumkham Balajit on duck in the second over before the team added any run and further slipped to 57/6 in 15.2 overs as Thangjam Rishi cleaned up three top order batters before Yumnam Amritakaran swung into action to claim the fifth and the sixth wicket.
Thokchom Nishikanta however put in a brave effort and took ESU close to the 100-run mark with Hemchand Yumkham adding a 38 run partnership before Anand Naorem broke the partnership by trapping Hemchand lbw for 9 runs.
Amritakarn further dented ESU's cause by trapping Thokchom Nishikanta leg before on 50 runs for the 8th wicket as the scoreboard read 128.From 128/8 in 27.4 overs, Sagolshem Ronal (46) and Chitaranjan Sharma (17) forged an unbeaten 64 run partnership to guide ESU safely to 192 in 39.4 overs.
Thokchom Nishikanta was eventually adjudged man of the match.
Meanwhile at Lairenjam Public Ground, CYCLONE kicked off their campaign with a 3-wicket win over Model Club, Chingamakha.
Langlonyamba 53 off 63 balls and Thoudam Deepak 47 off 70 balls inspired Model Club a lowly total of 164/10 in 42.1 overs after CYCLONE elected to field first and cruised to winning 167/7 in 43.4 overs courtesy of Bikash's 46-ball 56, K Homendro 30 not out, M Rohit 29 and L Santosh 20 .
Earlier, L Santosh picked four wickets (4/32) and N Denin (2/23) and (N Suraj 2/30) claimed two wickets apiece for CYCLONE.
For Model Club, Sunil Salam, Dibak Naorem and W Priyokumar claimed two wickets each in a lost cause.
Loktongbam Santosh who starred with a four wicket haul and added 20 runs in the chase was adjudged man of the match.
Elsewhere at Khangabok Cherapur Public Ground, CHAMP registered a 6 wicket win over RULE, Meitram courtesy of Narsingh Yadav's half century and bowlers.
CHAMP chose to field first and bowled out RULE for 145 runs in 39.5 with Md Ahsanul Kabir (4/25 in 9 overs), Moirangthem Thomash (3/13 in 5.5 overs) and Nitesh Sedai (2/28) ripping apart the RULE line up.
S Ananda 29, Avinash Asmali 27, RK Herachandra 21 and Ayekpam Rakesh 20 were the main run getter for RULE before Narsingh hit 10 fours and 1 six on the way to his 63-ball 70 to help CHAMP reach 149/4 in 25.5 overs.
Lairenjam Ansh 35 and Samir 24 also contributed to CHAMP's tally as Avinash Asmali (2/19) led the RULE bowling front.
Md Ahsanul Kabir was adjudged man of the match.
March 9 matches
PTCC vs SCCC at Luwangpokpa Cricket Ground
CRAU vs Al-Ameen at Lairenjam Public Ground
REYS vs PTRC at Khangabok Cherapur Public Ground .