Sovima, 19 February (MTNews): Nagaland emerged victorious over Meghalaya in a dramatic encounter to clinch the Col. CK Nayudu Trophy Plate Final, marking a triumphant conclusion to the Nagaland Cricket Domestic Season. The final, played at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium, showcased a day filled with riveting drama, witnessing a total of 22 wickets tumble on Monday.

Nagaland cricket
Entering the second day with the loss of only one wicket and trailing by 58 runs, Nagaland faced challenges as they succumbed to pressure, losing their remaining 9 wickets while adding a mere 59 runs to their overnight score. Despite two silly run-outs, including that of their captain Hem and key batsman Afzal, Mughavi’s resilient unbeaten knock of 62 runs stood out as the sole significant contribution with the bat for Nagaland.

Meghalaya’s batsmen struggled in their second inning, posting a meager 54 runs on the board. Neizekho’s exceptional bowling performance was a highlight, rendering him virtually unplayable for Meghalaya’s batsmen. He concluded the match with an impressive total of 9 wickets, claiming 6 wickets in the second inning to complement his three-wicket haul in the first inning on the previous day. Hem Bahadur chipped in with the remaining wickets, finishing with figures of 4/24 in 8 overs. Bipin was the lone Meghalaya batsman to reach double digits, managing 11 runs.

Chasing a modest target of 53 runs, Nagaland displayed resilience, reaching the goal with 3 wickets down and securing a 7-wicket victory. This win resulted in Nagaland lifting the Col. CK Nayudu Trophy for the Plate Group, underscoring the positive trajectory of Nagaland Cricket.

In the Men’s category this season, Nagaland reached the Semifinals across all competitions. Notably, they emerged victorious in two categories, Cooch Behar (U-19) and Col. CK Nayudu (U-23), defeating Meghalaya in both encounters.

Although the Under 16 and Senior Men’s teams (Vijay Merchant and Ranji Trophy) experienced setbacks in the Semifinals against Meghalaya and a formidable Hyderabad side, Nagaland Cricket continues to make significant strides.

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