To face Sikkim on October 9
Dimapur, October 7 (MExN): Nagaland defeated Meghalaya at the ongoing Vinoo Mankad Trophy Under 19 One Day Limited Overs Zonal League (2018-19) on Sunday in a low scoring game at the Railway Stadium, Bhubaneshwar.
The state boys elected to bat only to be bowled out for a modest total of 189 in 40 overs. The middle order came to the rescue after a top order collapse with the top 4 batsmen managing only 23 runs. Number 2 bastman Rajdip, who scored a 7-ball 4, was the first to go falling to a caught & bowl from Abhishek. Coming in at number 3 and 4, Chiranjivi and captain Joshua fell in quick succession in the 5th over with Abhishek claiming both the wickets in consecutive deliveries. When opener Shamphri fell for 19 in the 8th over, the team’s score read 29 for 4 in 7.2 overs.
Hem and Harsh Keshari steadied the ship stitching a rock solid century stand to take the score to 143 when Harsh fell for 52 in the 26th over. Breaking of the partnership paved the way for another batting collapse.
Number 7 Tohuka was the next to go for a duck. Arpit Kushwaha gave Harsh company for a while scoring 12 in 15 deliveries. After Arpit fell, Daniel followed soon after with a duck. Hem eventually was out for 74. Yash Tandon remained not out at 8 when tail-ender Hopongkyu was caught out after facing a scoreless 9 deliveries.
Abhishek was the pick of the bowlers for Meghalaya claiming 6 wickets. Swastic took 3 and Aryan 1.
The run chase by Meghalaya was similar to Nagaland’s with the top order collapsing, the middle order coming to the rescue and the lower order caving in. Its top 3 batsmen made 12 runs between them.
Md. Ashif Khan and Raghav Kapur pulled through sharing in a 91-run 4th wicket stand.
But Ashif fell 3 short of 50 clean-bowled by Tandon in the 27th over. Raghav held guard till the 48th over as wickets fell around him. He made 71 facing 101 balls and was the last wicket to fall with the chase stopped short at 159.
Chiranjivi took 3 wickets, Yash and Arpit 2 each, Daniel and Hem 1 each.
Nagaland will face Sikkim on October 9.
