2nd MNCA Superplate Tournament : PTCC cement Group A pole position with fourth straight victory, Muvanlai beat UCC in last ball thriller
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 12 2023: PTCC-Patsoi Part III cemented pole position in Group A competition of the 2nd MNCA Superplate Tournament with a thrilling 4-run victory over CDCC, Sagolband Salam Leikai today at Khangabok Part III Cherapur Public Ground.

PTCC won the toss and opted to bat first, but were skittled out for a meagre total of 155 runs in 32.3 overs as CDCC's spin attack proved fruitful.

They however managed to defend their total with a more stronger and concerted pace attack and restricted their Sagolband rivals just 5 runs away from victory to cruise to their fourth straight victory.

PTCC got off to a competitive start with Paonam Champion and G Gomi Sharma gathering 56 off 77 deliveries before Gomi was trapped lbw for 16 runs by Mutum Jodiba.

2nd MNCA Superplate Tournament

It proved to be their turning point for PTCC as P Champion holed out to Khurshid Alam off the bowling of Thounaojam Rakesh in the last delivery of 18th over as the scoreboard read 86 .

Leg break bowler Thounaojam Rakesh also removed Andyroshan Mandingbam (22) for the third wicket and Tanishq Sharma (10) for the fifth wicket as right arm off break bowler Geerish Kangabam took the honour to collect the fourth, sixth, seventh and the eighth wickets to reduce PTCC to 146 for 8 within 30.2 overs.

Mutum Jodiba then had his second wicket in the form of Shapam Kenjit for the 9th wicket before Sadananda Okram was caught behind the wicket off Khurshid Alam's third delivery of the 33rd over to wrap up the innings.

In reply, CDCC had a dismal start losing two crucial wickets to pacer Sohail Akram within 4.3 overs with 8 runs on the board.

Opener Priyojit Narengbam tried to fix the early damage with Kshetrimayum Robert with a 49-run partnership but Naorem Victor joined the pace attack and removed Robert for 23 runs before pinning Priyojit Narengbam for 26 runs on lbw for the fourth wicket.

From 86 for 4 in 24.5 overs, Mutum Jodiba put in a cautious effort to ease the pressure but lost his partner Ngangom Rajesh for 16 runs to medium pacer Shapam Kenjit at 123 before he was trapped lbw by another medium pacer Sadananda Okram for 42 runs to make it 135 for 6 in 33.2 overs.

Sadananda Okram then carried forward the bowling attack and got rid of three more batters in succession to leave CDCC at 151 for 9 in 38 overs before Sohail Akram set up Asif (7) catch in the second delivery of the 39th over to seal the fourth victory.

PTCC's Sadananda Okram who claimed a bulk of four wickets was adjudged man of the match.

Elsewhere at Kongba Khunou Dhobi Lampak ground, Muvanlai- New Lambulane beat UCC-Uripok by 2 wickets in a last ball thriller for their second win in 6 Group B matches.

Muvanlai bundled out UCC who won the toss and opted to bat first, for 112 runs in 29 overs with brilliant spells from their bowling department and chased down the target in the last delivery of the innings with two wickets left to spare.

UCC had a disastrous outing and were reduced to 32/5 within 9.5 overs with right arm medium pacer Avinash Asmali ripping apart the top order including Moiranthem Satish (7) and Roshan Das (0) in the 2nd and 5th deliveries of the 10th over.

The slump continued with Phurba Sherpa bowling out Sagolshem Nelson (21) for the 6th wicket before Thangjam Anson (41) and Konsam Gulson (20) fell to G Lientinthang Kipgen and Khaikhotinlal getting rid of last two wickets to end the UCC innings at 112 .

In reply, Muvanlai too faced a torrid time and were reduced to 86 for 6 in 21.1 overs despite James Athokpam's 29 with UCC's Bicky Kumar Das (3/14) and Leishangthem Bishorjit (2/22) causing much damage.

Md Aslam however kept the scoreboard ticking to take the team towards the target but he fell for 18 runs (33) to Konsam Gulson at 109 in the third delivery of the final over to give them a blow.

Konsam Gulson also removed incoming Sanjay Kaphle for a duck the next delivery to spice up the contest.

Needing 4 runs to win in just two balls, new batter Avinash Asmali picked up a run to let Khaikhotinlal take the strike and to Muvanlai's relieve the 6th delivery went wide to further narrow down the target and Khaikhotinlal (6) and Avinash made a quick running between the wickets to collect two required runs off the final delivery.

Muvanlai's wrecker-in-chief Avinash Asmali was declared man of the man. Tomorrow's matches
KASC vs PSC at Kongba Khunou Dhobi Lampak
YWC-L vs WYC at Khangabok Cherapur .