Mokokchung, 13 February (MTNews): In a thrilling encounter at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Anand, Nagaland emerged victorious over Arunachal in the semi-final of the Col. C.K Nayudu Trophy 2023-24 (Men’s U23). Winning the toss, Nagaland elected to bat, setting the stage for an intense battle that ultimately led to their triumph by 148 runs.
Nagaland’s 1st innings saw a commendable performance as they posted a total of 171 runs. Afzal shone with an unbeaten 81 runs, while contributions from Hem (20 runs), Tohuka (16 runs), and Samuel Zaputou (16 runs) bolstered their innings. Amarjeet Sharma and K Jangra were the key wicket-takers for Arunachal, claiming three and two wickets, respectively. Dol, Techi, Mibom and Leki took 1 wicket each.
Arunachal responded with a strong 1st innings performance, amassing 219 runs, securing a lead. Prince Yadav (69 runs) and Amarjeet Sharma (63 runs) played pivotal roles, with T Sania contributing an unbeaten 23 runs. For team Nagaland Hem with 4 wickets Raja 3 wickets, Neizekho 2 wickets and Dip 1 wicket were the successful bowlers.
Nagaland’s second innings showcased a dominant batting display, with Hem leading the charge with an impressive 139 runs. Tohuka (77 runs), Afzal (25 runs), Mughavi (17 runs), and Sujal (17 runs) added crucial runs, setting a challenging target of 242 for Arunachal. R Jangra emerged as the top bowler for Arunachal, claiming 4 wickets, while Dol and Techi contributed with 3 and 2 wickets, respectively.
Facing the uphill task of chasing 242 for victory, Arunachal faltered as Neizekho wreaked havoc, taking 5 wickets. Hem and Raja also made significant contributions, securing 2 and 1 wickets, respectively. Arunachal was eventually bowled out for 94 runs, handing Nagaland a resounding 148-run victory.
With this win, Nagaland secures a spot in the Plate Group Final and will face Meghalaya at their home turf, Nagaland Cricket Stadium, Sovima, on the 18th-21st of February 2024.
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. Each match is played over four-days. The current champions are Gujarat who defeated Mumbai in the 2023 final.