Ranji Trophy Plate fifth tie Meghalaya take 137-run lead at stumps on Day 3 after Manipur post fighting 342 in first innings

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 18 : Meghalaya are 49/1 (17 overs) in their second innings at stumps on day 3 to take a 137-run lead against Manipur who posted a fighting total of 342 runs in the first innings in the fifth and final league tie of the Ranji Trophy Plate Group at CK Pithawala Ground, Surat.
Resuming the day at 180/4 with Al Bashid (52 not out off 107 balls) and K Priyojit (49 off 106 balls), Manipur managed to add 162 runs off 411 balls today courtesy of half centuries from K Priyojit (71 off 173 balls; 7 fours and 1 six) and Pheiroijam Jotin (86 off 177 balls; 9 fours) before being bundled out for an innings total of 342 runs (in 126.3 overs).
Al Bashid and K Priyojit who shared 71 runs for the fifth wicket till yesterday held together well to forge the most significant partnership of the innings by adding 116 runs off 241 balls until Al Bashid got run out on 64 (off 144 balls; 7 fours).
Incoming Jotin and Priyojit then added 25 runs for the 6th wicket till Priyojit’s departure on 71 in the 82nd over to Chengkam Sangma as the scoreboard read 239.
Jotin and Kishan Singha then gathered another significant total of 52 runs off 156 balls till Kishan was trapped lbw by Aryan for the 7th wicket in the 108th over.
Jotin tried his best to hold things together but he ran out of partners as Ajay departed on a 20-ball duck for hitting the ball twice, Thokchom Kishan was bowled out for 8 off 11 balls (2 fours) before he got run out on 86.
Bishorjit 4 was unbeaten as Manipur culminated their first innings on 342 and gave away an 88-run first innings lead to Meghalaya. Akash Kumar (2/68), Chengkam Sangma (2/50), Aryan (2/83) and Swastic (1/75) were among the wickets for Meghalaya in this innings.
Resuming their second innings, Manipur skipper Bishworjit found the inroad early by removing Bonchang Sangma on 7 in the fourth delivery of the 5th over before Arpit Subhas 16 not out off 49 balls and Ajay Duhan 25 not out off 37 balls helped Meghalaya close out the day with a 137 run lead.