9th MNCA Elite Tournament : PTCC sink ESU to rock bottom with 45-run thrashing
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 28 2025: PTCC, Patsoi Part III handed ESU, Wangkhei Palace Compound a 45-run defeat in a relegation zone match of the ongoing 9th MNCA Elite W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Tournament 2024-25 .

PTCC opted to bat first at Lairenjam Public Ground after winning the toss and defended their modest total of 203/9 wickets by restricting ESU to 158/9 in the chase.

Paonam Champion topscored with a slow but significant 100-ball 64 for PTCC while Dominic Moirangthem clobbered 4 fours and 2 sixes on the way to his quickfire 37 off 14 balls to help the team post a total of 204 runs.

9th MNCA Elite Tournament

Hijam Hemachandra 27 off 42 and Sohail Akram 21 not out off 6 also added 48 runs to PTCC's tally in the innings that witnessed Chongtham Mehul Shreth collecting two wickets (2/51 in 8 overs) and four others- Thokchom Nishikanta, Chitaranjan Sharma, L Henary and Lourembam Dipu claim a wicket apiece.

Chasing 204 for the win, ESU had a shaky start and lost wickets in regular intervals.

They were reduced to 35/3 in 8.2 overs as Shapam Kenjit got rid of Mehul Shreth for 15 runs for the first wicket before Naorem Victor claimed the second and the third wicket in the 7th and the 9th overs.

They further slipped to 95 for 7 in 28.3 overs as incoming batters fell prey to Mutum Gemson and Dominic before Naorem Victor completed his treble by trapping L Henary lbw.

From 95/7, Sagolshem Ronal who came in at number 6 paired up with Chitaranjan Sharma to stitch 47-runs off 52 balls till Chitaranjan was caught behind the wicket on 24 runs in the 38th over of the bowling of Okram Sadananda.

Sadananda left further dent on the chase by removing Lourembam Dipu for the 9th wicket to finish with the figures of 2/25 but Ronal held on to complete his half century and was unbeaten on 55 (off 73 balls) with Hemchand Yumkham 3 not out as they closed the innings at 158/9 .

Paonam Champion who led the PTCC batting charge was declared man of the match.

With the result, PTCC were able to dislodge ESU from the 10th place but both remained in the relegation zone with 4 points from 8 and 9 matches respectively.