Nagaland opener Dega Nischal and number seven Imliwati Lemtur produced career-defining knocks to steer their team to a memorable draw against Tamil Nadu in a Ranji Trophy Group A match on Tuesday.
Although the Nagaland duo could not prevent Sai Kishore-led Tamil Nadu from securing three crucial points on the basis of their first-innings lead, they successfully averted an innings defeat that had seemed imminent when left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh’s hat-trick reduced them to 3/9 on day two.
Tamil Nadu had earlier declared at a commanding 512 for 3, powered by a double century (201) from Pradosh Ranjan Paul and 189 from opener Vimal Khumar.
In response, Nagaland’s Nischal (175) and Lemtur (146) batted resolutely for nearly two days, guiding their side to 446 all out in 157.4 overs, ensuring the contest ended in a hard-fought draw.
Resuming on Monday at 317 for no loss, overnight batters Nischal and Lemtur, unbeaten on 161 and 115 respectively, continued to frustrate the Tamil Nadu bowlers with their disciplined approach. Nischal added 14 more runs before falling to pacer RS Ambrish, becoming the sixth wicket to fall.
Lemtur, however, stood firm till the end, adding 31 runs to his overnight score before being the last man dismissed as Nagaland were bowled out in the 158th over, sealing the draw with handshakes between the captains.
The Gentleman’s Game
Cricket once again lived up to its name as the ‘Gentleman’s Game’ when Imliwati Lemtur, running out of partners and closing in on another milestone, was trapped leg before by Sai Kishore for a magnificent 146 (287b, 20×4, 3×6). The entire Tamil Nadu team ran up to congratulate him, a gesture that captured the true spirit of the contest.
Nagaland was bowled out for 446 in 157.4 overs, conceding a 66-run first-innings lead and three points to Tamil Nadu. Play began an hour and 49 minutes late on the final day due to bad weather, with Lemtur and D. Nischal (175, 376b, 25×4) resuming their defiant partnership. The tone shifted dramatically as Tamil Nadu’s pacers bowled with renewed energy and aggression.
Eighteen-year-old R.S. Ambrish led the charge, unsettling both batters with short-pitched deliveries, while Sandeep Warrier and Gurjapneet Singh kept the pressure on. Ambrish eventually dismissed Nischal, ending a marathon 225-run stand. The breakthrough opened the floodgates, with Warrier and Chandrasekar cleaning up the tail.
Lemtur’s dismissal after lunch brought Nagaland’s innings to a close, but the day’s defining moment came when Tamil Nadu’s double centurion Pradosh Ranjan Paul handed his Player of the Match award and prize money to Lemtur in a gracious show of respect.
‘Happy with how things are shaping up’ – Nagaland coach Mohanty
“I think we played really well. Honestly, if you ask me, the boys showed great character, especially playing against Tamil Nadu—a big team, obviously,” Nagaland coach Mohanty told Sportstar.
“After that initial collapse (31 for four)… To come back from there required a lot of character. Nischal and Imliwati, especially, and also Yugandhar, — a young guy — all showed great fight,” added Mohanty.
“Imliwati’s innings put them under pressure. Nischal was holding one end, and when Imli started scoring freely, they didn’t expect that. When a number seven batter from Nagaland started counterattacking the top bowlers, naturally, they felt the pressure.”
“The biggest positive was the application the boys showed under pressure. That was really remarkable. Of course, there are areas we need to work on—mainly fielding and bowling. But overall, I’m quite happy with how things are shaping up.”
(With inputs from PTI and Sportstar)
