1st MNCA Super Plate Tourney : RULE beat KCC by 26 runs to set up title clash with MPSC
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 24 2022: RULE, Malom beat KCC, Kongba Bazar by 26 runs at Model Hr Secondary and Oriental College ground in the second semi-final match of the 1st MNCA Super Plate Tournament being organised by the Manipur Cricket Association.

The win also meant that RULE are promoted to Elite tier along with another finalist team, MPSC.

The final date of the tournament is however yet to be announced.

1st MNCA Super Plate Tourney

Put in to bat first at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium, RULE who topped Group B with 7 of 7 wins, continued their fine form and racked up 190 for 8 in allotted 35 overs thanks to Sanjenbam Suresh (44) and Ayekpam Rakesh (41) before restricting their Kongba rivals to 164 for 9 to seal the final berth.

Yumnam Sheiteendra (3/40 in 7 overs) was the pick of KCC bowlers as he broke the crucial fifth wicket partnership between Ayekpam Rakesh and Rajkumar Herachandra removing the latter for 17 runs and went on to dismiss N Denin (7) and N Sarojkumar (5) late on.

Thokchom Kishan Singh was unbeaten on 21 (off 10 balls) as he hit two maximums and a four before closing out the innings with Sanjembam Somokanta (1) .

In reply, KCC got off to a flying start but Jay Singh who has been in red hot form this season found the breakthrough removing Keisham Mranojit for 10 in the 1st delivery of the 7th over to reduce KCC to 37 for 1 .

KCC's condition further worsened and slipped to 48/3 within 10 overs with the dismissal of Kongbrailatpam Sanjit (31) and Keisham Basantakumar (0) both by RULE's N Sarojkumar.

Nongmaithem Dijaraj (44 off 60 balls) tried to anchor but he had to see his partners removed in regular interval before he holed out to Nongthombam Sarojkumar off Ayekpam Rakesh bowling for the fifth wicket.

RULE's pacer, Thokchom Kishan then played his trick well to remove 3 crucial wickets including Rohen (24) by sparing 30 runs in 7 overs and to keep things tight for the Kongba side.

RULE's Ayekpam Rakesh who added 41 runs and picked two wickets was eventually named man of the match.