Shillong, Jan 5: Meghalaya dominated play on the first day of their Ranji Trophy 2023-24 season by taking a 109-run first innings lead over Arunachal Pradesh in Anand, Gujarat.
Arunachal, the hosts, won the toss and chose to bat first but were dismissed in under 30 overs for just 94. Meghalaya were then 203/2 in 58 overs by stumps.
The Meghalaya Cricket Association has chosen to go with a team completely composed of domiciled players, forgoing the use of guest professionals in a historic decision for the state side.
Md Nafees (1/16) struck in the very first over of the match for what proved to be his only wicket of the day and that set the tone for a top-class Meghalaya bowling performance.
Only three Arunachal batters got into double figures, as Dippu Ch Sangma (4/18) and Sanvert Kurkalang (3/19) made inroads into the line-up. Swarajeet Das (2/10) was the other wicket-taker for Meghalaya. These were the best Ranji figures for all three bowlers.
It was also a special day for Arien Bonchang Sangma, who made his Ranji debut, as he took seven catches behind the stumps as wicketkeeper.
Arien (32) and Swarajeet (29) then opened the batting for Meghalaya, putting on 54 for the first wicket. The mantle was then taken up by Ram Gurung and captain Kishan Lyngdoh, who together put on 133 in an unbroken third wicket stand.
At stumps, Kishan, who struck 12 fours, was not out on 68 from 81 deliveries, while Ram, also on his first-class debut, was unbeaten on 61 from 115 (8x4s).
(Meghalaya Cricket Association file photo of Sanvert Kurkalang)
