Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy : K Priyojit, bowlers help Manipur open winning account against Pondicherry
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 14 2022: K Priyojit's half century and efficient performances from bowlers helped Manipur open winning account in the Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy Group B competition with a slender 3 run victory over Pondicherry in a thrilling contest at Jaipura Vidhalaya Ground, Jaipur today.

Manipur senior team who are without any guest player have set a benchmark with the win even as it was a narrow victory.

Earlier in the competition, Manipur suffered losses in the hands of star studded Delhi and Goa.

Syed Mustaq Ali Trophy

Manipur won the toss today and piled up a moderate total of 125 runs for 7 thanks to Kangabam Priyojit's knock of 58 runs off 39 deliveries today and held Pondicherry to 122 for 5 in 20 overs as State bowlers maintained fine economy to keep their rivals under pressure throughout the chase.

Manipur lost Nitesh Sedai for 3 early in the second over to Thivagar G but skipper Langlonyamba (15) and Karnajit Y (20) forged a 31-run second wicket partnership off 35 balls and gave the team initial momentum.

Priyojit who came in for Karnajit then clobbered 5 fours and 3 sixes on the way to his 39-ball 52 to gather 49 runs off 33 balls with Bidash (12) for the fifth wicket and take the tally past the 100-run mark to ensure Manipur a respectable total.

Bharat Bhusan of Pondicherry with 2 wickets for 15 runs emerged best bowler as Sagar P Udeshi, Ankit Sharma and Satish Jangir also fetched a wicket each.

Defending 125, State bowlers faced a tough time as Ragu (22) and M Viknesh (45) looked threatening but Nitesh trapped Ragu lbw before Sultan Karim bowled Akash Kargave for 5 and Bidash got rid of M Viknesh to reduce Pondicherry to 95 for 3 in 16.2 overs.

Bidash also bowled out KB Arun Karthick on the way to achieving a good bowling figures of 2/25 in 3 overs before wicket keeper Prafullomani undone Ankit Sharma (8) on run out in the fourth delivery of the final over as the scoreboard read 118.Even as Kishan Singha and RK Rex failed to pick a wicket today, they played their part well by maintaining a fine economy and Bishorjit K who was offered just an over was close to securing a maiden but ended up giving a run to help Manipur secure a narrow victory. Manipur will face Uttar Pradesh in the next match on October 16 .