Manipur go down for third time in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021-22

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 8 : It was a forgettable day for Manipur at Andhra Cricket Association Stadium, Mangalagiri as they suffered a huge 167-run loss to Vidarbha in the fourth plate group clash of the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021-22.
Vidarbha won the toss and amassed an imposing total of 222 runs for 4 despite losing Siddhesh Watt on duck in the first over to Kishan Singha.
With Manipur's bowling line up depleted due to injury, Vidarbha's Jitesh Sharma exploited the chances and topscored with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls as he smashed five fours and five sixes. Atharva Taide (46 off 21 balls) and Apoorv (49 not out off 16 balls) were also close to scoring half centuries.
Kishan Singha emerged as the pick of the state bowlers, although Vidarbha proved too strong, with two wickets as he dismissed Shubham Dubey on 18 late in the fifteenth over.
Thokchom Kishan Singh (1 for 60 runs) and Nitesh Sedai (1 for 34 runs) also claimed a wicket apiece.
In reply, Manipur batters were easily tricked by the Vidarbha bowlers with their pace, length and accuracy and eventually had to wrap up the innings with a meagre total of 55 runs in 16.3 overs. Sadly, Karnajit Yumnam with 18 runs off 12 balls and Narsingh Yadav with 10 runs were the only batters who could manage a double digit run as the rest of the order fell very cheaply.
Akshay Karnewar and Atharva Kaide were in clinical form, securing two wickets apiece and spared not a single run in their spell of 4 and 1 overs respectively.
Aditya Thakare too picked up two wickets for 17 runs in 3.3 overs while Siddhesh Neral, Akshay Wakhare and Darshan Nalkande shared a wicket each to rattle up Manipur's batting line up.
It may be recalled that Manipur earned a comfortable 6 wicket win over Arunachal Pradesh on November 5 after the opening match loss to Nagaland a day before.
Bishorjit took centre stage in this match with a four wicket haul for 23 runs and Priyojit bagged 2/23 to force Arunachal Pradesh bundle out for 128 in 19.8 overs. A half century by Narsingh and Nitesh Sedai's 48-ball 49 then helped Manipur cruise past the target in 18 overs.
Manipur, however went down by 55 runs in the hands of Tripura on November 6.
Tripura gave Manipur a target of 169 runs losing just two wickets but Manipur could manage 113 for 6 in the chase despite efforts by Karnajit Yumnam (35) and Johnson (43).
With today's result Manipur are 6th in the plate group team standings and will play Mizoram tomorrow in the last group match.