Ranji Trophy 2022-2316-year old Jotin picks record 9 wickets on first class debut, Manipur lead Sikkim by 25 runs

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Dec 14 : Sixteen-year old Jotin Pheiroijam shone with a rare record of 9-wicket haul in an innings on debut Ranji Trophy (Plate Group) match against Sikkim at SICA Ground, Rangpo in Sikkim.
Such a rare feat was last achieved in the 2012-13 season by Mumbai's Ankeet Chavan against Punjab.
Mention may be made that Manipur's RK Rex who is in the State team recorded a rare 10 wicket feat back in 2018 in a Cooch Behar Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh and right arm medium pacer Jotin from Patsoi Lamkhai is latest to bolster the State's bowling department with the record feat. Incidentally, both Jotin and Rex play for PTRC, a local club in Patsoi.
Having won the toss, Manipur had elected to bat first yesterday but were bowled out for a meagre total of 186 runs in 56.5 overs.
Kishan Singha with an unbeaten 42 off 63 balls was the highest run getter yesterday. Ronald M also fetched 41 runs and Rex added 28 off 22 balls in Manipur's first innings.
The Sikkim bowlers produced a prolific performance yesterday and reduced Manipur to 56 for 6 in 26.2 overs with Sumit and Palzor leading the attack and Ankur denied Manipur's fightback to trigger the collapse.
Sumit returned with the best bowling figures of 3 for 43 in 12 overs of which 3 were maidens while Palzor (2/41 in 16 overs) and Ankur (2/22) finished with two-wicket hauls. Jeetendra, Tarun Sharma and Lee Yong Lepcha of Sikkim also shared a wicket each in this innings.
 Jotin Pheiroijam ploughed through the Sikkim's batting line up to secure a rare feat of 9 wicket haul for 69 runs  in 22 overs of which 5 overs were maiden and caught Anwesh on Rex's bowling to help Manipur bowl out Sikkim for 220 runs in 73.1 overs. Jotin opened his account by removing Arun (41) and went on to dismiss Nilesh Lamichaney (15) and Pankaj (20) to reduce Sikkim to 83 for 3 in 40.2 overs.
Jotin then removed another key Sikkim batter (47) off a catch by Thokchom Kishan in the 56th over before bowling out Ashish Thapa (32) and Palzor on golden duck in the last two deliveries of the 60th over. Jotin then completed his 9-wicket haul by dismissing Ankur (7), Tarun Sharma (0) and Lee Yong Lepcha (0) before RK Rex set up Anwesh catch in the first delivery of the 74th over.
Sikkim were eventually leading the game by 34 runs when they wrapped up their first innings at 220.
Manipur added 59 for 4 in 19 overs of the second innings to take a 25-run lead at stumps on Day 2 as the top order batters of Manipur faltered yet again despite Jotin Pheiroijam's eye-catching bowling performance.
Karnajit (2) was trapped lbw by Sumit for the first wicket before P Prafullomani (4) holed out to Tarun Sharma in the same over.