NCA overwhelm KSDO by 90 runs to seal title of 9th MNCA Plate Tournament

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 10 : NCA, Ningthoukhong shrugged off their league stage defeat against KSDO, Kyamgei to notch up a 90-run victory in the title clash of the 9th MNCA Plate Tournament 2024-25 organised by the Manipur Cricket Association.
Notably, KSDO had beaten NCA by 5 wickets during their league stage clash before both the sides made it to the knock-out stage as Group B winners and runners up.
NCA won the toss today and and elected to bat first at Lairenjam Public Ground. But they folded up for 167 runs in 34.3 overs as KSDO bowlers put in a concerted effort. The total however proved too big for KSDO as they slumped to 77 all out within 19.2 overs with NCA bowling department producing an improved and memorable performance.
NCA were slow off the blocks as they were reduced to 5/2 in 1.5 overs losing Roshan on golden duck to Lakimbur and Pradeep on 4 to Tarique Aziz. Bobby Yumnam and Angom Robinhood however save the early blushes by adding 76 runs for the third wicket partnership before Bobby was bowled out by Md Riyauddin on 15 in the last delivery of the 14th over.
NCA further slipped to 88/5 as Angom Robinhood saw incoming partners- RK Rojeeson and RK Amarjee being removed with ease by Md Shah Jahan in the fourth and last delivery of the 19th over. Despite the growing pressure, Robinhood held on to add 66 before he was dismissed for the 7th wicket by Md Riyajuddin as the scoreboard read 127. Moirangthem Karamachand was unbeaten on 25 off 19 balls before their innings came to an end at 167 with 3 balls left to spare.
KSDO's Lakimbur returned with the best bowling figures of 3/28 as Md Shah Jahan (2/12), Md Riyajuddin (2/47) and Tarique Aziz (2/57) chipped in two wickets apiece.
KSDO, who finished league stage unbeaten, too had a jittery start to their chase as Shinoj Khwairakpam trapped Md Arif lbw in the third delivery of the first over before bowling out Nawaz Sharif on 5 two balls later to reduce them to 9/2.
RK Amarjeet then bowled out Abdul Rafique who came in at 3 for 1 before Shinoj completed his treble of wickets by getting rid of Kh Firdos and left KSDO struggling at 15/4 after 4.1 overs. The slump continued as L Sadananda joined the party to sweep following three wickets including Md Raish Raza 8 and Tarique Aziz 2 in the 4th and the last delivery of the 10th over to break the backbone of the KSDO line up and reduced them to 54/7 in 13.5 overs.
Roshan Konthoujam then removed Md Shah Jahan on 9 for the 8th wicket in the 15th over before Angom Robinhood set up the collapse by removing Lakimbur 7 and Md Riyajuddin 0 and returned with the bowling figures of 2/7 in 1.2 overs.
L Sadananda returned with the best bowling figures of 3/15 for NCA as Shinoy Khwairakpam finished with 3/23 in their spell of 5 overs.
Angom Robinhood of NCA who starred with both the bat and ball was adjudged player of the match and feted with a cash prize of Rs 2,500 and a trophy.
Winners NCA and runners up KSDO were eventually feted with cash prizes of Rs 1,20,000 and Rs 80,000 each besides certificates and trophies.
Huidrom Dhanashyam of MPA, who emerged man of the series with a haul of 17 wickets and 346 runs; Nelson Keithellakpam of IBSA, who emerged highest run scorer with a total of 375 runs in 9 innings; and Khumukcham Romesh of THAU, who emerged highest wicket taker with 25 wickets to his name were also feted respectively with cash prize of Rs 8,000; Rs 4,000 and Rs 4,000 besides certificates and trophies.