1st MNCA U-23 Men's Tournament : RCA beat RULE by 7 runs in top of Group A table clash
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 19 2024: RCA, Lilong defeated RULE, Meitram by 7 runs in the top of the Group A table clash in the 1st MNCA Haobam Biramangol Singh Memorial U-23 Men's Tournament.

Both the sides were locked on 8 equal points despite RCA enjoying pole position with better Net Run Rate before the match but the win today helped RCA finish undisputed group winners on 10 points.

Both teams advanced to the quarterfinals as group winners and runners up.

The narrow but crucial win for RCA came up at Khangabok Cherapur Public Ground as they defended a total of 120 runs they amassed in 32.4 overs by producing a better bowling performance to dismiss RULE for 113 runs in 29.3 overs.

RCA had a shaky start to their innings and eventually slumped to 120 all out in 32.4 overs as RULE bowlers put in a disciplined performance.

Five of the RULE bowlers were among the wickets in this innings that saw Syed Hussain 30, Md Anush 23, Naesh Hussain 17 and Md Alfash 16 managing double digit runs.

Boocker returned with the best figures of 3/19 for RULE as Sunil Kumar 2/15, Sanjenbam Somokanta 2/15 and Jay Singh 2/27 shared 6 wickets and A Rojit picked one (1/18) .

Chasing 121 for the win, Sanjenbam Suresh tried his best to keep the competition in hand despite seeing his partners returning cheaply with Aziz Mirza, Naesh Hussain and Md Danish inflicting early damage.

His removal on 39 for the fifth in the 21st over by Iliyas eventually marked the turning point of the innings as Iliyas (3/23 in 8 overs) and Aziz Mirza (3/14) swept the tailenders with ease to finish with three wickets hauls.

In another Group A clash staged at Model HSS and Oriental College ground, ESU secured an 8-wicket win over KSDO, Kyamgei thanks to Bishomcha Khundrakpam (5/2) and Hanjabam Donba Sharma (3/3) .

ESU opted to field first and bundled out KSDO for just 30 runs in 17.1 overs and chased down the target within 6.4 overs with 8 wickets left to spare.

Md Abdul Razaque topscored for KSDO with 16 runs as H Donba 15 and H Naoba 14 led the scoring for ESU.

Al-Ameen win but miss out on quarterfinal spot

The day also saw Al-Ameen, Lilong defeat PCC, Mayaikoibi by 20 runs in their last Group B match but missed out on quarterfinal ticket as they finished behind league runners up TCMDC on level points but with inferior NRR of 0.308 .

After electing to bat first, Al-Ameen gathered 164 for all wickets down in 35.3 overs courtesy of Nawaz 40 and Sagir Ahamad at Thoubal Moijing ground and bundled out PCC for 144 runs in 39.2 overs thanks to Md Karim 3/19, FM Sakil Ahamed 3/31 and Khulakpam Hanif 2/26 .

For PCC, Pravin Kumar 3/21 and Mairembam Lucky 3/38 finished with three wicket hauls as Takhelmayum Vikash picked two (2/19) .

In reply, Takhlemayum Vikash 32 and W Max 27 were the leading run getters.

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