Shillong, Oct 9: Meghalaya began their 2026-27 season of BCCI domestic cricket with a victory in the U-19 men’s Vinoo Mankad Trophy plate group over Mizoram in Bhubaneswar today.
The match went down to the wire, with Meghalaya coming through to win the one day fixture by 5 runs.
Today also witnessed Meghalaya’s first match in the U-19 Women’s T20 Trophy plate group in Guwahati. Here Meghalaya lost to Tripura by 10 wickets.
The Meghalaya Cricket Association has undergone months of turmoil due to the ongoing dispute between MCA President James PK Sangma MP and the other elected members of the Apex Council. Incidentally, both of these squads have been chosen by the faction in the Meghalaya Cricket Association opposed to Sangma.
Batting first after winning the toss, Meghalaya’s U-19 men made 218 all out in 44.5 overs and then bowled out their opponents for 213.
Gaurav Narleng top-scored with an unbeaten 60 from 50 deliveries for Meghalaya, an innings that included three fours and as many sixes.
At the top of the order, Pynshngainlang Marwein batted well for his 38 (6x4s), while Enrick Suchiang contributed 28 (4x4s) and Gaurav Jyoti Thakuria 19 not out (2x4s).
Meghalaya’s bowlers were on top of their game in the chase, with the first four Mizoram batters removed for just 21. Lawma (44) and Dinpuia (55) added 92 for the fifth wicket and there were further contributions down the order but Meghalaya kept chipping away with wickets to bowl Mizoram out in 47.3 overs.
Amul K Ray took 3/44 in 9 overs, while Mewankitbok Kharpuri bagged 2/32 in 10. Benedict Jones Makdoh (1/22), Gaurav Narleng (1/46) and Sameer Choudhary (1/50) also claimed a wicket apiece.
Both of Meghalaya’s teams will be in action again tomorrow against Sikkim in the U-19 men’s and women’s tournaments.
(Photo contributed)
