NECDC Cricket tourneyLower order Bikash, Md Sultan smash outstanding half centuries as Manipur beat Arunachal Pradesh

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 30 : Lower order Bikash Singh and Md Sultan Karim smashed outstanding half centuries as Manipur beat Arunachal Pradesh by 133 runs in their opening match of the 1st NECDC Friendship Sr Men's Limited Overs Cricket Tournament 2023 at Nagaland Cricket Ground, today.
It was a slow start for Manipur as the State team lost as many six wickets when the  score was at only 89 in 20.1 overs until Bikash Singh and Md Sultan Karim came out and did most of the work in setting a high target of 253/10 in 49.3 overs.
While Bikash knocked 74 runs off 86 deliveries, Md Sultan hit an unbeaten 53 off 50 balls.  
Bikash was dismissed by Abo Nabam in 47.2 overs.
Other than opener Md Basir Rahman who hit 33 runs off 43 balls and middle order Jotin Pheiroijam (28 runs off 35 balls) and Kishan Laishram (19 runs off 42 balls), all other top order of the State scored a single digit run.
The wicket takers of the Arunachal Pradesh were Abo Nabam (2 wkts), Yab Niya (2 wkts), Darge Bagra (2 wkts), Techi Doria (2 wkts), Techi Neri (1 wkt) and Myendung Singpho (1 wkt).
The Manipur team did well while fielding too as they bundled out Arunachal Pradesh for 120 in 44.5 overs and registered their first win.
Kishan Laishram who dismissed 3 wickets with an economy of 2.70 and hit 19 runs won the man of match title.
 Rajkumar Rex Singh, Bishworjit Singh Konthoujam and Md Sultan also clinched two wickets each while Ngariyanbam Johnson Singh fell one.