5th MNCA Elite Tournament : Blue Hawk tame Al-Ameen in clash of bowlers
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 01 2021: Pritam produced a fine bowling performance to help Blue Hawk Cricket Club, Khurai get off to a winning start against Al-Ameen Cricket Club, Lilong today in the 5th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Tournament 2021 being underway at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium, Luwangsangbam under the supervision of Manipur Cricket Association.

Blue Hawk, after winning the toss, elected to bat first and piled up a lowly total of 116 runs for 10 within 31 overs of the total 40 as Al-Ameen Cricket Club, Lilong bowling attack proved very sharp.

However, in an unexpected turn, Blue Hawk bowlers outshone and forced Al Ameen CC succumb to 80 all out in 27.5 overs for the 36 run victory.

Basir Rahman of the Lilong side was in his best form today to remove the three top order batsmen of Blue Hawk including skipper Wakambam Samson on duck, Becker Roy (1) and Laishram Daniel (1) and Nasir Shah dismissed Sanatomba on 3 to help reduce Blue Hawk to 7 for 4 in 4.1 overs.

After Gautam who came out for the 5th wicket stand added 27 runs, Ronson made the most of the runs hitting an unbeaten 36 off 42 balls to ensure Blue Hawk cross the 100 run mark as other batsmen fell easy preys to Nawaz Sharif who claimed four and Noushad Ali who clinched 2 wickets.

With a meagre target in sight, Al-Ameen looked likely to win but brilliant bowlings by Pritam and Romario of Blue Hawk turned the table upside down and squeezed their rivals to 80 for all out in 27.5 overs to earn their team an unexpected win.

Interestingly, Basir Rahman who opened for Al-Ameen was out on golden duck to Sunil Salam before Nawaz Sharif had the same fate to Y Romario's bowling.

Romario then removed Nasir Shah on duck in the 5th ball of the second over to reduce Al-Ameen to 2 for three.

Romario then claimed his third sending off Mustaque Ali on 2 making it 18 for 4 and giving Al-Ameen a nightmarish experience.

Though Al Basid hit a half century (53 off 82 balls), his partners kept departing in regular intervals with cheap scores.

Pritam was the pick of the Blue Hawk bowler as he scalped four including Al-Basid in the 2nd ball of the 28th to end the innings while Ozzy picked up two to finish with best figure of 8-2-9-2 (2 wickets for 9 runs in 8 overs which include two maidens).

Mutum Pritam who triggered the big collapse by clinching four wickets was named man of the match.

PTRC, Patsoi will play TRAU, Kwakeithel tomorrow in the 3rd Group A league match of the tournament.

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