MNCA Plate Tournament: WYC to meet CRAU in final

By Our Sports Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 2 : WYC, Thoubal Wangkhem defeated Muvanlai, New Lambulane by 22 runs at Model Hr Secondary School and Oriental College ground today to complete the final line up of the ongoing 5th MNCA Plate Tournament.
The Thoubal team will meet CRAU, Khamnam Bazar in the final. The final date however is yet to be fixed.
Opting to bat first, WYC registered a moderate total of 199 runs for 9 in the stipulated 40 overs and restricted Muvanlai to 177 for 10 in 37.2 overs to remain undefeated so far in the tournament.
Sougrakpam Shangkar (40) and Wangkhem Samungou (34) gave WYC a good start but Khaikhotinlal Haokip (3/25 in 8 overs) and Avinash (3/48 in 8 overs) of Muvanlai wreaked havoc to keep the WYC strike rate in check.
Wangkhem Laksmon Singh (24) also did his best to ensure WYC set a target of 200 runs.
Muvanlai, in reply, saw a promising start, with Nandakumar (27) and G Lientinthang Kipgen (37) rotating strikes to keep the scoreboard ticking before they were respectively dismissed by Laksmon and S Shangkar.
WYC were reduced to 96/4 with Shangkar claiming his second by removing James Athokpam on 18.
Gouminlun Kipgen, took charge of Muvanlai batting and added 42 runs off 75 balls to lead the fightback till late but his partners fell cheaply to WYC bowlers and eventually WYC won the game by 22 runs.
Wangkhem Laksmon of WYC finished best with 3/19 in 8 overs which contained 2 maiden to earn the man of the match accolade. Laishram Rajesh, Thoudam Roshankumar and Thokchom Priyobarta clinched a wicket each to help WYC seal the final ticket.