Manipur go down by 15 runs to Bihar in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 26 2025: Manipur suffered a 15-run loss to Bihar today despite diligent bowling efforts in a Vijay Hazare Trophy Plate Group clash at JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi.

Having pulled off a narrow 1 wicket win against Nagaland in the opening match, Manipur ended up collecting 269 for 9 wickets in the chase of 285 runs for the victory.

The pace attack from skipper Konthoujam Bishworjit (3/55 in 10 overs) and Pheiroijam Jotin (3/41 in 10 overs) proved effective as Nagaland, who were asked to bat first, were bundled out for 284 runs.

Nagaland had a slow but steady start as Mahrour (65 off 83; 5 fours and 3 sixes) and Piyush Kumar Singh (24 off 42) forged 75 runs for the first wicket before Akash Raj (75 off 71; 6 fours and 2 sixes) joined the fray put the innings in right course.

Akash Raj was able to stitch a 50-ball 54 run partnership with Ayush Loharuka (29 off 27) before adding 51 runs off 54 balls with S Gani (31 off 30) and took Bihar past the 200-run mark.

Akash Raj also gathered another 53 off 30 balls with Bipin Saurabh before he got run out on 75 for the 5th wicket.

Jotin who undone S Gani for the fourth wicket then dismissed Bipin Saurabh and Suraj Kashyap for the 6th and the 7 wickets to reduce Bihar to 274/7 and returned with the best figures of 3/41 in 10 overs before Bishworjit produced a hattrick in the last three deliveries of the final over to finish with 3/55 .

Kishan Singha, Ajay Singh and K Priyojit had earlier picked a wicket apiece.

In reply, the opening duo of Y Karnajit and Kh Ulenyai gave Manipur a promising start as they produced a 100-run partnership until Ulenyai holed out to Bipin off the bowling of Suraj Kashyap in the 5th delivery of the 23rd over.

Manipur further slumped to 135/3 in 31.3 overs as Himanshu Tiwari grabbed his first two wickets before K Priyojit and Ng Johnson set up the recovery path by adding 76 runs off 62 balls before the partnership ended with S Gani removing Priyojit on 44 (off 31 balls; 3 fours and 2 sixes).

Gani also removed incoming Jotin on a 7-ball 7 before getting rid of Johnson (48 off 51; 3 fours) when he was 2 runs away from hitting a half century to mount more pressure.

Gani then completed his haul of four wickets by dismissing Bidash on 12 for the 7th wicket before Himanshu Tiwari returned to action and secured the wickets of M Langlonyamba 15 off 11 and Ajay Singh 0 to leave Manipur struggling at 265/9 in 49 overs.

With 20 runs needed in the final over, Kishan Singha 6 off 5 and Bishworjit 1 off 3 added 4 runs to sign with an innings total of 269 runs.

S Gani who returned with the best bowling figures of 4/55 in 9 overs and contributed 31 runs to Bihar's tally was adjudged player of the match.

Manipur will play Arunachal Pradesh in the next match on December 29 at Usha Martin Ground, Ranchi.

Brief Scores
Bihar 284 (Mahrour 65, Akash Raj 75; Jotin 3/41, Bishworjit 3/55)
Manipur 269/9 (Ulenyai 60, Karnajit 45, Johnson 48, Priyojit 44; S Gani 4/55, Himanshu Tiwari 4/45) .

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