Nagaland Men’s Under-23 team registered their third consecutive win in the Plate Group of the ongoing Col. CK Nayudu Trophy 2023-24, played at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium, Sovima, Chumoukedima, with a resounding 346-run victory over Arunachal Pradesh.
The toss favored Nagaland, and they opted to bat first. In their 1st innings, Nagaland posted a formidable total of 260 runs, losing all wickets. The innings was highlighted by a stellar performance from Zipa Pohena, who crafted a well-designed maiden century, amassing 108 runs. Sujal (34 runs), Hem (27 runs), and Tohuka (25 runs) also contributed significantly.
Arunachal’s bowling effort was led by Amarjeet Sharma, who claimed 4 wickets, supported by Leki Tsering (3 wickets) and T Muri (2 wickets).
Arunachal, in response, struggled and were bundled out for 88 runs in their 1st innings. Nagaland’s Raja picked up 5 wickets, while Hem (2 wickets), Neizekho, and Dip (1 wicket each) played crucial roles. Leki Tsering (22 runs) and Teli Rade (17 runs) were the only notable run-scorers for Arunachal.
Despite the option to enforce a follow-on, Nagaland chose to bat again in their 2nd innings, where they amassed 218 runs, losing all wickets. Afzal (53 runs), Hem (50 runs), Sujal (34 runs), and Mughavi (27 runs) led the way. Arunachal’s bowling unit, led by Mibom (5 wickets), T Muri (3 wickets), and Amarjeet (2 wickets), put up a valiant effort.
With a target of 390 runs to win, Arunachal faced a daunting task in their 2nd innings but were bowled out for a mere 44 runs. Devansh Gupta (14 runs) and T Muri (11 runs) were the only noticeable contributors. Nagaland’s bowlers dominated once again, with Neizekho taking 4 wickets, Raja (3 wickets), Odilemba (2 wickets), and Hem (1 wicket) wrapping up the proceedings.
Nagaland’s next match will be against Manipur at Sovima Cricket Ground from 28 – 31 January 2024.
Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Manipur, and Mizoram are the teams in the Plate Group, with Nagaland leading the points table with 3 wins out of 3 matches.
The Colonel CK Nayudu Trophy is a domestic cricket championship played in India between under-23 teams representing various state and regional cricket associations. It is organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and is named after India’s first Test cricket captain CK Nayudu.