Superplate tourney: Gibson bowls PCC to 33-run victory over Muvanlai

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 25 : PCC-Mayaikoibi clinched their second Group B victory in the 2nd MNCA Superplate Tournament with a 33-run victory over Muvanlai, New Lambulane today at Kongba Khunou Dhobi Lampak.
PCC won the toss and opted to bat first. They were bowled out for a moderate total of 206 runs in 39.1 overs by Muvanlai. The total however proved too big for chasing Muvanlai as Longjam Gibson starred with a fifer to devastate their batting line up.
PCC did not have best of the start and slumped to 22 for 4 in 6.4 overs as Gouminlun Kipgen removed Rohit on duck for the first wicket at the end of the first over and Sapam Nandakumar removed two key wickets before Longjam Gibson got run out on 5.
Chingakham Ranjan and Thokchom Anand (22), however, steadied the innings and forged an 80-run fifth wicket partnership off 16.4 overs before Anand got run out in the 23rd over soon after the team crossed the 100-run mark.
Avinash Asmali then removed Bobby for 6 on lbw to reduce the team to 119 for 6 before Ranjan and Dhanashyam tried to revive the innings again.
Sanjay Kaphle of Muvanlai managed to bowl out Ranjan for 73 runs (off 78 balls) and set up Ajay Mahato run out for 3 runs to make it 178 for 8 in 35.2 overs.
Huidrom Dhanashyam, despite seeing his partners fell in regular interval, held on and smashed 3 fours and 2 sixes before he holed out for 45 runs to Avinash of the Gouminlun Kipgen's last delivery of the 37th over.
Sapam Nandakumar then completed his third wicket haul (3/27 in 7.1 overs) by bowling out L Chingkheihunba for 6 runs and wrapped up the innings.
In reply, Muvanlai could only see a significant second wicket partnership between Nandakumar (48) and Haolengou Kipgen (27) before succumbing at 173 runs in 35.2 overs as Longjam Gibson wreaked havoc by claiming highest five wickets for 37 runs in 8 overs and walked away with the man of the match accolade..
Ch Ranjan also claimed two wickets for 23 runs  in his spell of 4.2 overs.
CDC-Sagolband will play WYC-Wangkhem in the next match tomorrow.