Shillong, Dec 17: Manipur will require 270 runs to win their U-19 men’s Cooch Behar Trophy match against Meghalaya on the fourth and final day here tomorrow after the hosts’ lower order scored enough runs to set them what should prove a challenging target.
The morning of the third day today at the MCA Ground in Polo saw Manipur add just eight runs to their overnight score of 259/8 to be bowled out for 267, 53 runs short of Meghalaya’s 320/10 in their first innings. Angkit Tamang (3/58) wrapped up the innings by removing the last two tailenders.
Angkit was able to put his feet up after that but not for very long as Meghalaya would require his services with the bat as well.
The home side found batting a little difficult but they got to 46 without loss thanks to Manthan Dey’s 28 and Shubham Rasaily’s 18. However, in a span of around 20 overs Meghalaya would go on to lose six wickets, with Manipur ploughing through the batting order.
That is when Angkit was called on to partner up with Kishlay Vishlux and the two batted sensibly, occupying the crease for nearly the entire second session as they scored 84 for the seventh wicket.
Kishlay, who ended the first innings not out on 52, looked sure to get another half-century when he was bowled by Manipur’s most successful bowler, Joyhenba, for 49.
The left-arm spinner had taken three wickets earlier on and dismissed Kishlay in his first over after being brought back into the attack.
Angkit, who had played a support role up until then, took up the mantle of senior batter and hit a few lovely boundaries before bringing up his 50 with a single. However, he then immediately got out by slicing a ball into a fielder’s hands to become Joyhenba’s fifth wicket. He finished with figures of 5/33 in 16 overs.
Charm Marbaniang added another 20 before being dismissed right at the end of the day, which led the umpires to declare stumps.
The visitors will thus be able to tackle the chase fresh tomorrow morning, while Meghalaya will aim to make early inroads before Manipur can settle.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association photo. Manipur bowler Punsiba Mangang dives to stop the ball)
