Shillong, Nov 5: A fourth first-class half-century for Akash Kumar Choudhary and one by guest professional Akshay Karnewar gave Meghalaya some hope but it wasn’t enough for them to avoid a 122-run defeat against Nagaland in their Ranji Trophy 2026-27 plate group match on the fourth and final day here today.
The result has to be seen in the context of the internal disputes plaguing the Meghalaya Cricket Association. The team chosen by the Apex Council faction was replaced a day before the match by that chosen by the MCA President’s faction. It was the Apex Council’s team that represented Meghalaya for the first three matches, winning one and drawing twice, before the new team was drafted in after the selection of the former was deemed illegal by an order of the Meghalaya High Court.
The new team would have had precious little time to train together, though they had gone through trials in September-October. Despite all the drama off the pitch, they took to the field enthusiastically on Monday morning after winning the toss and choosing to have a bowl.
Good pace bowling from Akash and Dippu Sangma (1/19) had the visitors in a spot of bother on 20/3 but they recovered to post a respectable 254 all out. Akash bagged 4/66 and left-arm spinner Manish Sharma 4/67 in an impressive Ranji debut. Nagaland’s top scorers were Rongsen Jonathan (69) and Nagaho Chishi (68).
In response, Meghalaya were all out for 144 in their first innings, with no player getting more than guest professional Srinivas Sharath’s 36. Josiah Momin made 24 on his debut as the next highest scorer. Anil Gupta (4/50) and Saurav Kumar (3/31) were Nagaland’s most successful bowlers.
With a 110-run lead Nagaland would have looked to bat Meghalaya out of the game in their second innings but were hampered by good bowling again, with the visitors all out for 184. Rongsen hit 48 this time and Nagaho 28, once again being the two highest scorers for Nagaland. In the bowling department, Dippu claimed 3/27 and Swarajeet Das 3/36. Raj Biswa (2/11) picked up the last two wickets, while Manish (1/15) and Akash (1/53) came away with one apiece.
That still left Meghalaya chasing 295 to win on the fourth day today and the chase didn’t start well. Both openers – Raj and Bamanbha Shangpliang – were out for ducks and the hosts were 44/6 following the dismissal of Manish (23), the first player to get to double figures. Swarajeet’s fall left Meghalaya on 67/7 and this is when Akshay and Akash stitched together an eighth wicket partnership worth 64 valuable runs.
Akshay made 56 from 72 deliveries (10x4s) but his removal meant Akash had to hold on with Dippu and Nafees Siddique. Dippu stuck it out doggedly for 39 balls for his 7 runs but Nafees (4) only managed three balls. That left Akash unbeaten on 50 from 66 deliveries. He hit six fours and Meghalaya’s only six of the match, thereby adding to his growing reputation as a capable all-rounder.
Meghalaya were thus all out for 172. Saurav (3/47) and Anil (3/62) were again Nagaland’s best bowlers.
The half-century plus his five wickets in the game would have surely put Akash in contention for Player of the Match but that award went to Rongsen for his impressive feats with the bat for Nagaland, in their first win of the season.
Meghalaya’s fifth and last Ranji match will be in January against Arunachal Pradesh at home. In the meantime Meghalaya will feature in the domestic T20 tournament, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, with the plate group matches to be held in Nagaland from 14th November. The domestic one day Vijay Hazare Trophy will then begin in December, with Meghalaya’s matches to be held in Indore.
(TSR photo)