Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy : Fighting Manipur go down by 85 runs against Saurashtra
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 19 2023:
Fighting Manipur went down by 85 runs against Saurashtra despite Kangabam Priyojit hitting a half century in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Group C competition at JSCA Oval Ground, Ranchi today.
Manipur won the toss and opted to field first.
Saurashtra posted a massive total of 240 runs for 4 wickets courtesy an unbeaten century from wicket keeper Harvik Desai and a half century from Vishvaraj Jadesh and restricted Manipur to 155 runs for 5 for the comfortable win.
Saurashtra had a flourishing start with Tarang Gohel and Harvik Desai taking on the Manipuri bowlers but RK Rex bowled Tarang Gohel out for 13 runs in the third over of their innings to find the breakthrough.
Bishworjit Konthoujam then removed Samarth Vyas for 28 runs to reduce Saurashtra to 64 for 2 in 7.5 overs.
Harvik Desai however stood firm despite Bidash Chingakham removing Sheldon Jackson for 11 runs in the 10th over and went went on to forge a significant 138-run fifth wicket partnership with Vishvaraj Jadeja (69) in just 59 deliveries to take the tally well beyond past 200 before Bidash succeeded in breaking the partnership late in the 19th over.
Harvik then finished off the innings with an unbeaten 104 off 55 balls along with Jay Gohil (1) .
In reply, Manipur lost Prafullomani to India international Jaydev Unadkat just two deliveries into the innings after hitting a four in the opening ball and had to see Ngariyanbam Johnson Singh (14) retire hurt.
RK Rex (14) was removed for the second wicket by Kushang Patel in the 10th over when Manipur were just 2 runs away making the 50 run mark.
Kangabam Priyojit, having seen three of his crucial partners depart, kept the scoreboard ticking as he found a good partner in Bikash Singh and took the total past the 100 .
After smashing 7 fours and 5 sixes, K Priyojit was removed for 75 runs for the third wicket by Chirag Jani in the last delivery of the 18th over.
Kushang Patel then got rid of Bikash Singh (35) in the 19th over to reduce Manipur to 138 for 4 before Sultan Karim added an unbeaten 16 off 7 deliveries to give Manipur a fighting total of 155 runs.
Manipur will play Punjab in the next match on October 21 at the same venue.
Brief Scores
Saurashtra 240/4 : Harvik Desai 105, Vishvaraj Jadeja 69; RK Rex (1/55), Bishworjit Konthoujam (1/34), Bidash Chingakham (2/34)
Manipur 155/5 : K Priyojit (75, 7x4, 5x6), Bikash Singh (35); Kushang Patel 2/20 .