7th MNCA Plate Tournament : NAPSA cruise to fifth Group A win on trot, OSCAR end NC A's 5-game winning streak
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 22 2023: NAPSA-Kha Imphal are a game away from confirming their semifinal berth as they defeated RRCC-Churachandpur by 70 runs for the fifth straight victory in the 7th MNCA Plate tournament Group A competition at Model Hr Secondary and Oriental College ground today.

NAPSA won the toss and managed 185 runs for all wickets down in 39.5 overs after electing to bat first.

They restricted RRCC to 115 runs in 28.2 overs courtesy bowlers- Heisnam Boney and Albert Sorokhaibam who were in their sublime form today.

NAPSA had a stuttering start in their innings and were reduced to 54 for 4 in 13.4 overs Thangkhopao finding the breakthrough and Haojalen Kipgen and Louriyam Elan adding teeth to RRCC's bowling attack.

The slumped continued even as Richard Singh Kshetrimayum hung on to score 96-ball 50 with Ningthoujam Shyamsunder bowling out Sengtung for 20, Haojalen bowling out two more batters including Premananda Ahongsangbam (25) and Thangkhopao sweeping the tailenders cheaply to wrap up the innings at 185 .

In reply, Haojalen led from the front and added 60-ball 61 despite losing three of his partners including two in the 17th over to Heisnam Boney.

Haojalen was bowled out by Albert Sorokhaibam for the 4th wicket in 17.2 overs as the scoreboard read 81 and it was a turning point for the team as Heisnam Boney completed his four wicket haul (4/ 27 in 8 overs including 1 maiden) by removing Moirangthem Rameshwar and Louriyam Thingo both on ducks to leave the team languishing at 85 for 7 in 20.4 overs.

Albert Sorokhaibam then got rid of N Shyamsunder (3) and Thangkhopao (14) to make it 115/9 in 27.5 overs before David Das got run out by Bipin Ningthoujam for the last wicket in the 29th over.

NAPSA's Heisnam Boney who added 20 runs and picked up 4 wickets in 8 overs was declared man of the match.

Elsewhere at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium, OSCAR-Paona Bazar ended NCA's 5-game winning streak in Group B competition with a 1 wicket victory.

It was the fourth win for OSCAR in as many as 6 matches.

After winning the toss, OSCAR opted to field first and successfully bundled out NCA for 85 runs in 19.2 overs and chased down the target in 14.1 overs by overcoming tremendous pressure from NCA bowlers with just one wicket left in hand.

NCA had a disastrous start to their innings with Boocker Kangjam (5/31 in 6.2 overs) and Zenith Nongmaithem (4/ 22 in 6 overs) destroying their line up.

From 37 for 8, it was Chourjeet RK who struck 42 off 39 balls and gave NCA some hope but Boocker Kangjam completed his fifer by setting up N Bijendro catch in the 20th over to end the innings.

Chasing 86 for the win, OSCAR had a torrid time but rode on Nongmaithem Bijendro's unbeaten 31 and 29 run extra spilled by NCA bowlers to seal the victory.

Chourjeet RK was the pick of the NCA bowlers claiming 6 wickets alone including four batters on duck to leave OSCAR line up in the lurch and Amarjeet RK picked twice but their efforts went in vain as the target was too small.

Bijendro who played a crucial role in guiding OSCAR to a close win was eventually adjudged man of the match.

Tomorrow's matches
SHADOW vs YAC at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium
SDC vs KCDO at Model Hr Sec School and Oriental College ground.

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