MNCA Elite Tournament : CRAU, Model Club post identical two-wicket wins
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 24 2023: CRAU-Khamnam Bazar and Model Club-Singjamei Chingamakha registered identical two-wicket victories in the ongoing 7th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Tournament today.

Riding on Lamabam Ajay, H Joyhenba and T Kala, CRAU bowled out SCCC, who won the toss and opted to bat first, for a paltry total of 111 runs at Model Hr Secondary and Oriental College ground before chasing down the target in 33 overs with 2 wickets left to spare.

SCCC had a dismal start and were reduced to 26 for 3 win 8.5 overs as T Kala found the breakthrough in removing Jaali Ahmed Chisti for 4 runs before Lamabam Ajay removed Lishan Khaidem (5) and Ulenyai Khwairakpam (0) in the 3rd and the 5th delivery of the 9th over.

MNCA Elite Tournament

Heisnam Joyhenba then undone Basant (14) to reduce SCCC to 40/4 in 11.3 overs before L Ajay returned once again to bowl out Sandeep Chakraborty for 22 and Laishram Ronson (2) to complete his four wicket haul (4/17) and make it 58/6 in 18.5 overs.

Joyhenba then completed his three wicket haul (3/23) by setting up Oinam Pradeep (0) catch and bowling out Heman Thounaojam (5).T Kala bowled out Pinkey Sanasam for 16 runs for the 9th wicket and the innings came to a halt with Johny Kh trapping Rahul Chanda for a 38-ball 27 in the 1st delivery of the 33rd over.

In reply, CRAU top order faltered with SCCC bowlers making a combined effort and were reduced to 48 for 6 in 17.1 overs with Pinkey Singh and Sandeep Chakraborty claiming two wickets each and Rakeshwor Republic Hidangmayum and Lishan Khaidem snatching a wicket each.

Dijen Singh Naorem (24 off 37 balls) and Ronil Potsangbam (22 off 20 balls) however took the teams to a sniffing distance of a win and Lamabam Ajay (11) and Takhellambam Kala took honours to take CRAU to winning 112 in 33 overs.

Lamabam Ajay who shone with the ball and added an unbeaten 11 off 29 balls was adjudged man of the match.

Meanwhile at Public Ground Khangabok Part III, Model Club returned to winning ways with a 2-wicket win over MPSC.

MPSC racked up a competitive total of 211 runs for 9 wickets but Model Club survived scare to seal the victory with two wickets and three overs left to spare.

Potsangbam Bonem took centrestage for MPSC smashing 11 fours and 2 sixes on the way to his 80-ball 71 while Sagolshem Sunil (30), Gelson Singh Thoudam (39) and Soubam Kingson (21 not out) followed suit.

Suson Yanglem was the pick of Model Club bowlers claiming 4 key wickets in his spell of 7 overs despite spilling 55 runs while Robertson Laishram (2/27) and Somorjit Salam (2/18) shared two wickets each.

In reply, Langlonyamba Meitankeishangbam smacked 9 fours and 2 sixes to post a 61-ball 78, highest for Model Club and Bijenkumar hit an unbeaten 55 on the back of 7 fours and 1 six in 50 deliveries to make sure his team seal the close win within 37 over.

Langlonyamba, who picked a wicket and top-scored for Model Club in the chase, walked away with the man of the match accolade.

Tomorrow's match
CYCLONE vs CHAMP at Public Ground, Khangabok Cherapur.