Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Priyojit, Langlonyamba and bowlers shine as Manipur script 90-run victory against Arunachal Pradesh

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 26 : Manipur kickstarted the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy Plate Group campaign with a huge 90-run victory against Arunachal Pradesh at Deccan Gymkhana Cricket Ground, Pune.
Kangabam Priyojit, who impressed this season in the Ranji Trophy with back to back centuries that were followed a half century, took centrestage yet again to hit his maiden domestic T20 century and played a key role in raising a total of 207/3 with Meitankeishangbam Langlon-yamba after Manipur won the toss and chose to bat first.
Captain Bishworjit Konthoujam, Pheiroijam Jotin, Chingakham Bidash, and Laishram Kiran the ran through the Arunachal Pradesh batting line up to restrict them to 117/9 in the allotted 20 overs and sealed the 90-run victory.
Manipur had a steady start to the innings with Khwairakpam Ulenyai and Ningthoujam Thoiba gathering 25 runs for the first wicket until Ningthoujam Thoiba was undone by Likha Sonia in the 4th delivery of the 3rd over.
Manipur further slumped to 46/3 as Ulenyai got run out on 33 (off 17 balls; 7 fours) for the second wicket in the fifth over and Johnson was bowled out by Ayush G in the next over.
Langlonyamba was then joined by Kangabam Priyojit for the fourth wicket partnership and the duo sized up their bowlers and blasted 161 runs together off 86 balls to guide Manipur to an imposing total of 207 runs.
Priyojit clobbered 9 fours and 6 maximums on the way to his unbeaten 101 off 48 balls while Langlonyamba smack 4 fours and 3 sixes to remain unbeaten on 56 off 40 balls.
Chasing 208 for the victory, Arunachal Pradesh batters faced a stiff opposition from the Manipur bowlers and slumped to 117/9 to cede the game.
The pace trio of Pheiroijam Jotin, Chingakham Bidash and Konthoujam Bishorjit inflicted early damage by removing the top three batters and reduced them to 37/3 within 5.1 overs.
Spinner Laishram Kiran then got rid of T Sania and Lucky Farman Khan in the 8th and the 10th overs to further reduce Arunachal Pradesh to 63/5 before Chingakham Bidash dismissed Arunachal Pradesh skipper Obi on the highest 36 for the 6th wicket.
Ph Jotin then bowled out Mibom Mosu and Likha Sonia cheaply in the 16th and the 18 overs to pile more pressure on Arunchal Pradesh.
Arunachal Pradesh further slipped to  107/9 in the 19th over as Bishworjit removed Tempol on 17 before TNR Mohit 10 and Ayush G 1 closed out the innings at 117.
Jotin returned with the best figures of 3/23 in 4 overs as Kiran shone with 2/16 in his debut match, Bishworjit finished with 2/14 and Bidash finished with 2/23.
 Manipur will play Meghalaya in the next match on November 28 at MCA Cricket Stadium, Gahunje, Pune.