Sovima, 2 February (MTNews): Nagaland gained a crucial upper hand in their final qualifying match of the Ranji Trophy 2023-2024 Plate Group after bowling out Arunachal Pradesh for a modest 124 runs on Day 1. Despite losing two early wickets in their reply, the hosts are still in a strong position, trailing by just 98 runs with 8 wickets remaining.
Winning the toss, Arunachal Pradesh elected to bat first but faced a formidable bowling attack from Nagaland, collapsing for a modest total of 124 runs in 39.1 overs. Arunachal Pradesh struggled to build partnerships, with only Odi (15), Doria (21), Kumar Nyumpu (13), and a few others managing double-digit scores. Nagaland’s bowling attack, led by the impressive Khrievitso Kense (4/5), didn’t allow any batsman to settle, taking wickets at regular intervals. Khrievitso Kense emerged as the star performer for Nagaland, claiming an impressive 4 wickets in just 5 overs. The bowling unit, led by Kense, received ample support from Karan Tewatiya, Jaganath Sinivas, and Imliwati Lemtur, who took 2 wickets each.
Lemtur Makes History, Nagaland Starts Shaky:
Imliwati Lemtur etched his name in history by becoming the first bowler from the North East Zone to claim 100 wickets in first-class cricket. Earlier, Nagaland captain Jonathan Rongsen had achieved the feat of becoming the first player from the region to score 2000+ runs in first-class cricket.
However, Nagaland’s batting start was shaky. Openers Joshua Ben Ozukum and Moakumzuk Tzudir fell cheaply to Shekar Sirdhi and Gaurav Parte respectively. With Jonathan Rongsen (12*) and Sedezhalie Rupreo (8*) at the crease, Nagaland trail by 98 runs with Day 2 crucial in their pursuit of a playoff spot.
With eight wickets in hand and a relatively small deficit, Nagaland are well-placed to take control of the match on Day 2. A strong batting performance could not only help them secure victory but also boost their chances of qualifying for the playoffs.
The Nagaland Cricket Association has invited all cricket enthusiasts to witness the exciting match unfold at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium Sovima. Public entry is available at Gate No. 2.