3rd NECDC Inter State Friendship Tournament : Jotin smacks ton, picks two as Manipur overwhelm Arunachal by 100 runs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 09 2025: Pheiroijam Jotin impressed all with his bat and ball to fashion Manipur a huge 100-run victory against Arunachal Pradesh in the 3rd NECDC Senior Men's Inter State Friendship Tournament Group A opening match at Sovima Cricket Ground.

Asked to bat first, Manipur erected a massive total of 354 runs for all wickets down in 47.3 overs courtesy of a quick century from Pheiroijam Jotin and half centuries from Pukhrambam Prafullomani, K Priyojit and RK Rex and defended their big total by restricting Arunachal Pradesh to 254/8 .

Manipur got off to a blistering start but lost Yumnam Kamajit to Nabam Dol at 39 before Priyojit and P Prafullomani gathered 56 runs off 58 balls for the second wicket.

Nabam Dol managed to break the partnership by removing Prafullomani on 62 (off 50 balls; 10 fours and 2 sixes).

Incoming Ngariyanbam Jameson also did not last long and went down to Josh for the third wicket at 111 .

Jotin then joined K Priyojit to forge a remarkable partnership of 123 runs off just 80 balls to take Manipur past 200-run mark with Jotin leading the attack until Limar Dabi caught and bowled K Priyojit on 72 (off 69 balls; 10 fours and 1 six).

Jotin was then joined by RK Rex and the duo kept the scoreboard ticking before Jotin hit Yab Niya for a six to long-off to complete his 100 in just 66 balls in the last delivery of the 38th over.

Jotin however holed out to Licha Jhon off the bowling of Nabam Tempol on 106 after forging 60-runs off 41 balls for the 5th wicket at 294.RK Rex also managed to complete his half century hitting Nabam Tempol for a four to long-off in the fifth delivery of the 44th over but he was undone by Nabam Dol two balls later on 51 off 35 balls (6 fours and 2 sixes) as the scoreboard read 336.Chingakham Bidash 17 and Nongthombam Denin 10 also contributed to help Manipur post the commanding total of 354 runs.

Chasing the big target, Arunachal Pradesh had a shaky start and slipped to 56/ 3 in 13 overs as RK Rex got rid of Neelam Obi 14 and Ngurang Tana 2 in the 3rd and 5th deliveries of the 5th over and Chingakham Bidash trapped Nabam Tempol on 17 for the third wicket.

Opener Techi Doria found an able partner in Licha Jhon and forged a 129-ball 110-run partnership before Licha was bowled out by Jotin on 49 .

RK Rex further reduced Arunachal Pradesh to 179/5 in 36 overs by bowling out Magung Tai on 5 before Lamabam Ajay removed the stung by removing Techi Doria on 102 for the 6th wicket at 221.Bidash and Jotin then got rid of Nabam Dol 27 and Suhel Akter Ansari 5 for the 7th and 8 wickets to restrict Arunachal Pradesh to 254/8 in 50 overs.

RK Rex returned with the best bowling figures of 3/60 in 10 overs as Jotin (2/38 in 8 overs) and Chingakham Bidash (2/49 in 10 overs) finished with two-wicket hauls.

Ph Jotin was adjudged man of the match.

As many as 6 teams clubbed into two groups are competing in the tournament hosted by Nagaland under the aegis of North East Cricket Development Council.

Manipur will play Mizoram in the next match on May 12 .

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