Veteran T-20 Cricket TCMDC tame CYCLONE by 6 wickets to book semi-final ticket

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 13 : Bowlers ran riot as TCMDC, Thongju outlasted CYCLONE, Thangmeiband by 6 wickets in the third quarterfinal match of the ongoing XIII T-20 Manipur Veteran Cricket Tournament at Langthabal Public Ground today.
TCMDC chose wisely to field first and restricted CYCLONE to 98/8 in the allotted 18 overs riding on effective bowling performances from L Krishna (3/10), N Sanjit (3/24) and Kh Bijesh (2/14) before the top order fired collectively to post the winning 101 within 13.3 overs with 6 wickets to spare.
Asked to bat first, CYCLONE, had a slow start and were reduced to 15/2 in 3.2 overs with L Krishna getting rid of both the openers.
One down batter Shashi and the no.4 batter Thingujam Surjit gave CYCLONE some respite by adding 64 off 62 balls for the third wicket but Kh Bijesh undone Shashi on 38 in the 4th delivery of the 14th over to reduce the team to 79/3.
Kh Bijesh also removed incoming Lamabam Bobby on duck to pile further pressure on CYCLONE.
Krishna then completed his haul of three wickets as he caught and bowled Arun on 4 in the 16th over before Ningthoujam Sanjit dismissed RK Chinglensana, Narjit and Th Surjit in the 2nd, 3rd and the 5th deliveries of the 17th over.
S Robindro 8 off 7 balls and Dhanendrajit 2 off 2 balls were unbeaten as CYCLONE closed out the innings at 98/8.
In reply, S Rakesh 24 off 17 balls, Th Tarun 23 off 22 balls and Premjit Nongthombam 19 off 19 balls gave TCMDC a good start before Kharibam Anand (27 not out off 16 balls) finished off the chase with L Krishna (1 off 1 ball).
Narjit was the pick of the CYCLONE bowlers (2/26) while S Robindro (1/27) and Tiken (1/21) picked a wicket apiece.
The other quarterfinal match between YPHU-Nongin, Lalambung and SU-SVC, Sagolband was abandoned due to rain.