11th Manipur Veteran Cricket Championship : CYCLONE drub NAPSA by 6 wickets to lift trophy
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 11 2014: In a low scoring match, CYCLONE, Thangmeiband brushed aside the challenge of NAPSA, Kha-Imphal to emerge the champions of the 11th Manipur Veteran Cricket Championship played at Langthabal public ground today.

In a battle between the bat and ball, it was the ball which dictated the pace of the game and decided the final outcome in favour of the team from Thangmeiband.

On winning the toss, NAPSA elected to bat, but were soon floundering under the incisive bowling from the bowlers of CYCLONE, with H Arun leading the charge to return with figures of 4 wickets.

Extracting bounce and keeping a fine line and length the bowlers of CYCLONE lived up to the occasion to restrict NAPSA to a paltry 94 runs in the allotted 30 overs.

Gautam of NAPSA was the lone batsman who put up a semblance of a fight compiling a pain staking 21 runs off 41 balls.

Though Gautam stood his ground and picked the loose balls, wickets kept falling at regular interval at the other end, with only two other batsmen of NAPSA able to reach the double digit mark with Ronikumar chipping in with 17 runs off 33 balls and Keshorjit 11 runs off 38 balls.

Bhogendro fell short of the double digit mark falling for 9 runs off 25 balls.

For CYCLONE H Arun was the chief wrecker as he took four wickets in quick succession and was ably assisted by Binoy who scalped 3 wickets.

Robindro was among the wickets with one wicket.

Set a modest target of 95 runs, CYCLONE got off to a fine start with Thoithoi finding the gaps and scoring on either side of the wickets to notch up a score of 33 runs off 43 balls.

Ingenjao chipped in with a valuable 19 run off 21 balls followed by Sumi with 12 runs off 17 balls and Bobby who hit an entertaining 8 runs off only six balls.

With the bowlers of NAPSA unable to find the right line and length, CYCLONE easily reached their target for the loss of four wickets in 16.4 overs.

Puthiba of NAPSA was the main wicket taker scalping two wickets while Ronikumar and Ratankumar chipped in with 1 wicket each.

For his haul of four wickets, H Arun of CYCLONE bagged the man of the final match award.

T Bhogen Singh of NAPSA walked away with the Man of the Series award.

The oldest player of the tournament was T Brajabidhu of IWVCC, born in 1952 .

Along with the rolling trophy, CYCLONE were given a cash prize of Rs 10,000 which is donated by E Bhorot Singh, Associate Professor and life member of MVCA of Singjamei Liwa Lambi in memory of his late mother Elangbam Keinahal Devi.

The runners up team, NAPSA had to settle for the rolling trophy along with a cash prize of Rs 7,000 which is donated by Dr A Herojit Singh Associate Professor CAU (life member of MVCA) of Top Mayai Leikai, Imphal East in memory of his late father A Ibochouba.

Altogether 9 teams took part in the tournament in two groups which began from January 15 .

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