7th MNCA Plate TournamentNAPSA beat SSU by 3 wickets to book final berth, earn superplate promotion

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 1 : NAPSA-Kha Imphal defeated SSU-Singjamei by 3 wickets to seal a place in the 7th MNCA Plate Tournament final and earned promotion to superplate group next season.
SSU won the toss and opted to bat first at Model Hr Secondary and Oriental College ground today but were bowled out for a lowly total of 113 runs in 35.2 overs before NAPSA chased down the target in 31.5 overs with three wickets left to spare.
SSU started positively but lost Md Akip Hussan for 20 runs to Rockey Yumnam in the 7th over before they were reduced 69 for 3 in 19.5 overs with Alberth Sorokhaibam removing Thangjam Somorjit for 28 runs and Shamurailatpam Deepankar for 15 runs.
The run flow throttled to a great extent after the three wickets and it was Heisnam Boney who caught and bowled  Saikhom Thongam for a duck to reduce SSU to 75 for 4.
With Sougrakpam Douglas getting run out for 8, SSU further slumped to 82 for 5  in 23.4. The next over saw Heisnam Boney set up Dingku G catch for 2 runs before the team added any runs to the scoreboard.
Khomdram Rahuldev fell for 7th wicket to Bipin Singh as the scoreboard read 93 after 28 overs before Heisnam Boney caught and bowled out Rupachandra (7) for the 8th wicket and completed his three wicket haul (3/20 in 8 overs).
Tongbram Dhanakuber and Nepram Richer then claimed a wicket each to wrap the SSU innings at 113.
In the chase, NAPSA too struggled with wickets felling in regular intervals before Premananda Ahongsangbam (12) and   Albert Sorokhaibam (13) had an unbeaten 8 wicket partnership to steer the team from 86 for 7 in 27.5 overs to winning 114 in 31.5 overs.
SSU's Sh Deepankar Sharma had wreaked havoc earlier claiming three wickets including highest run getter for NAPSA- Richard Singh Kshetrimayum after Dingku G removed Heisnam Boney for 10 and Bijaykaran Yumnam for 4.
Heisnam Boney of NAPSA who picked three wickets and added 10 runs in the chase was adjudged man of the match.
AKSDO-Khangabok will play NCA-Ningthoukhong in the next match tomorrow at the same venue.