Shillong, Mar 31: Meghalaya lost their second Group A match of the 1st North East Inter State Friendship Tournament by six wickets to Manipur in Nagaland today.
Meghalaya were dismissed for 178 in 48.3 overs and Manipur wrapped up a supreme all-round performance by scoring 182/4 in 38.1 overs.
Both teams had already qualified for the semifinals but Manipur went through as the top team from Group A, with Meghalaya second.
Batting first, Meghalaya got off to a good start with Kishan Lyngdoh and Raj Biswa making 47 for the first wicket before the former was caught for 37. Arien Bonchang Sangma (pictured) took on the mantle and played a great knock.
Sangma brought up his half-century off 88 deliveries with Meghalaya on 127/4 but was unfortunately bowled for 55 soon after.
The other batters were unable to mount much of a resistance and Meghalaya were all out for a sub-par 178.
Akash K Choudhary picked up a wicket in only his second over thanks to a sharp catch by Swarajeet Das inside the circle to put Manipur on 22/1 but they regrouped and the second wicket pair put on 53 runs before Sanvert Kurkalang trapped Longjam M lbw.
A series of wickets at this point could have turned the game in favour of Meghalaya but Manipur battled once again and reached 100 in under 19 overs without further loss.
A couple more wickets did fall, though – Arbin Singh had another Manipur batter caught in the 24th over and Das smashed the stumps of Langlonyamba (50) with Manipur just 9 runs away from victory.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association file photo)
