Dimapur, September 19 (MExN): Debutants Nagaland got off to a promising start at the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day tournament against Bihar at Anand on September 18, but a brilliant spell by Samar Quadri (3/35) restricted the team to a modest 253/8.
Playing the plate group match of the tournament and opting to bat first, at one stage Nagaland were 152 for 2 with opener Nitesh Lochab striking a quick 79.
However, Quadri’s twin blow of Lochab and Sedezhalie Rupero (35) ensured that the debutants were restricted to 253 which Bihar easily reached with a solid batting display led by Babul Kumar’s 121 not out to cruise to the 254-run target with 38 balls to spare.
Back to the domestic fold after a gap of 18 years, an unbeaten 130-run partnership for the third wicket between Babur and Keshav Kumar helped Bihar coast to an eight-wicket win over Nagaland, PTI News Agency reported.
Babul’s knock came off just 119 balls with 15 fours and a six as he along with opener Vikash Ranjan (47) put together 116 runs to lay the foundation, it added.
Among other leading scorer from Nagaland was Imliwati Lemtur (not out) at 45. Nagaland will play Meghalaya next on September 21.
Other results
Elsewhere in Vadodara and Nadiad, Manipur and Mizoram were also defeated in their respective matches, the PTI report added.
In Vadodara, Puducherry became the first Plate team to win a Vijay Hazare match with an eight-wicket win over Manipur.
Manipur folded for a paltry 120 after Puducherry opted to field. Sarag Udheshi (4/20), Sagar Trivedi (3/47) shared seven wickets between them as Manipur struggled to get a partnership going.
Shashank Singh (63 not out) along with Himachal Pradesh veteran Parash Dogra (21 not out) sweated little to cruise to the target in 25.3 overs.
At Nadiad, Taruwar Kohli scored a run-a-ball 127 to take Mizoram to 234/8 which was not enough as Arunachal Pradesh logged four points from the plate group.
Opener Samarth Seth led Arunachal’s chase with a 107, while Kshitiz Sharma gave good support with a quick 61 as they romped home with 18 balls to spare.
