The Nagaland Senior Men’s Inter-District Cricket Tournament 2025 witnessed two dominant performances as Niuland and Chumoukedima secured emphatic victories in their respective matches.
At the Nagaland Cricket Association Stadium in Chümoukedima, Niuland outplayed Kohima with a five-wicket win, thanks to a stellar bowling effort from Akavi A Yeptho. Meanwhile, at the Sovima Cricket Ground, Chumoukedima cruised to a commanding nine-wicket triumph over Mon, with Jonathan Rongsen delivering a match-winning all-round performance.
Niuland Secures Victory Over Kohima
Niuland triumphed over Kohima at the Nagaland Cricket Association Stadium in Chümoukedima, winning by five wickets. A dominant bowling performance by Akavi A Yeptho set up Niuland’s victory as they successfully chased Kohima’s modest total of 92 runs.
Batting first after winning the toss, Kohima struggled to build partnerships and was bowled out for 92 in 25.2 overs. Their innings was anchored by Anga Shuya, who top-scored with 27 runs off 38 balls, while Tapito Thupitopr contributed 24 runs off 31 balls. However, Niuland’s bowling attack, led by Akavi A Yeptho, proved too strong. Yeptho delivered an outstanding spell, picking up five wickets for 25 runs in his nine overs, dismantling Kohima’s batting order.
In response, Niuland reached the target in 18.3 overs, losing five wickets along the way. The chase was steadied by Afzal Choudhury (26 off 50 balls) and Sujal Prasad Thakur (24 off 22 balls), who played crucial knocks to guide their team to victory. Despite some early breakthroughs from Kohima’s bowlers, Niuland remained composed to secure the win. Sepichem Jingru and Kelhousilie were among the standout bowlers for Kohima, but their efforts were not enough to defend the low total.
With his match-winning spell, Akavi A Yeptho was named Player of the Match for his five-wicket haul, which proved instrumental in restricting Kohima to a below-par score.
Chumoukedima secures 9-wicket win over Mon
Chumoukedima registered a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Mon at the Sovima Cricket Ground, Chümoukedima. Mon, after electing to bat first, struggled against a disciplined Chumoukedima bowling attack and was bowled out for 123 runs in 43 overs. In response, Chumoukedima chased down the target with ease, reaching 124/1 in just 17.5 overs.
Mon’s innings revolved around a fighting knock from Santosh, who remained unbeaten on 56 off 61 balls. Despite his resilience, Mon’s batting lineup failed to offer meaningful support, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals. Chumoukedima’s bowlers dictated terms, with Jonathan Rongsen leading the charge, picking up 4 wickets for 33 runs in his 10 overs. Keduowhetuo provided valuable support, claiming 2 wickets for 22 runs in six overs, ensuring Mon never built any momentum.
Chumoukedima’s chase was clinical, powered by a blistering knock from Jonathan Rongsen, who scored 56 runs off just 41 balls. His aggressive approach put Mon’s bowlers under immense pressure. Mughavi Sumi complemented him with a steady 44* off 53 balls, as the duo ensured an effortless chase. The only success for Mon came through Tingmei Konyak, who took the lone wicket for 28 runs in four overs.
For his exceptional all-round display, Jonathan Rongsen was named Player of the Match. His four-wicket haul dismantled Mon’s batting lineup, and his fluent half-century sealed Chumoukedima’s emphatic victory.
