10th MNCA Elite Trophy ESU crush YWC by 8 wickets to end league campaign with 4 wins

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 25 : ESU, Wangkhei Palace Compound capped their 10th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Trophy 2025-26 with a dominating 8-wicket win over YWC, Langthabal at Model Hr Sec and Oriental College Ground.
With the win, fourth in 11 matches that included a tied match, ESU were able to finish 7th in the league table on 9 points while YWC remained unmoved from their 10th position on 7 points.
Pukhrambam Prasantamani produced a lone fighting display scoring 66 off 59 balls but his effort went in vain as ESU bowlers were too clinical before Sanatomba and Naoba blasted 109 together for the second wicket to seal the victory with ease.
Opting to bat first, YWC had a disastrous start and slumped to 12/3 in 4.2 overs as Lourembam Dipu swept the top orders before Thangjam Rishi joined the fray and claimed two wickets on the trot to reduce them to 23/5 in 13.2 overs.
The slump continued with L Henary getting rid of Nepram Herojit to leave YWC struggling at 54/6 before Pukhrambam Prasantamani put in a brave effort and smashed 3 fours and 4 sixes on the way to his 59-ball 66 and set up a partnership of 55 runs with Maibam Subash.
Leishangthem Bishorjit however caught and bowled Subash on 9 to break the partnership in the second delivery of the 32nd over before getting rid of Prasantamani three ball later.
Lourembam Dipu then undone Soubam Robinson on 1 for the 9th wicket and walked away with the best bowling figures of 4/18 in 7 overs before L Bishorjit completed his three wicket  haul (3/13 in 5.1 overs) by removing Y Vivek on 1 to close out the YWC innings at 113 in 33.1 overs.
In reply, ESU lost Chongtham Mehul Shreth on run out early but skipper Sanatomba and Hanjabam Donba joined forces to punish YWC bowlers. The duo forged a remarkable partnership of 109 runs to take the team to a sniffing distance of a win until Sanatomba holed out to Vivek on a 96-ball 66 off the bowling of P Prasantamani in the 29th over.
Naoba 36 off 75 and Sagolshem Ronal 2 off 5 then took ESU to the target in the second delivery of the 31st over.
Lourembam Dipu who starred with the ball was adjudged player of the match.