Ranji Trophy Plate Group Manipur declare at 505/3 as Karnajit, Ulenyai, Ronald hit tons; AP trail by 381 runs at stumps

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 2 : Arunachal Pradesh were 124/5 at stumps on Day 2 to trail behind Manipur by 381 runs as Manipur declared their first innings at 505/3 riding on three centurions and two half centurions in a third Ranji Trophy tie at Narendra Modi Stadium Ground ‘B’, Motera, Ahmedabad.
Resuming the second day day at 245/1 (in 60 overs), Yumnam Karnajit and Longjam Ronald forged a remarkable partnership of 88 runs before Karnajit was undone on 146 (off 189 deliveries; 20 fours) by Techi Neri for the second wicket in the third delivery of the 75th wicket when Manipur was just one run away from 300-run mark.
Ronald and Ngariyanbam Johnson then joined forces to take on Arunachal Pradesh bowlers to forge another impressive partnership of 145 off 160 balls for the third wicket until Johnson was dismissed for a heartbreaking 89-ball 95 by Yorjum Sera as the scoreboard read 444 after 101.1 overs.
Ronald held on to complete his maiden first class century and was unbeaten on 101 off 176 deliveries (6 fours and 1 six) alongside Kangabam Priyojit who blazed an unbeaten 52 off just 19 balls to take Manipur past the 500-run mark.
Yorjum Sera returned for the best figures of 2/96 in 19 overs for Arunachal Pradesh as Techi Neri finished with 1/107 in 22 overs.
After the innings break, Jotin Pheiroijam impressed with the ball and removed both the openers cheaply- Abhishek Mrinnal 6 and skipper Neelam Obi 11 to reduce Arunachal Pradesh to 26/2 in 9 overs.
The slump continued with Manipur skipper Konthoujam Bishworjit getting rid of AE Sakrola on a 2-ball duck in the fourth delivery of the 10th over.
Licha John who came out at number 3 tried to take the innings forward with Techi Neri by gathering 56 runs off 87 balls but RK Rex trapped Techi Neri lbw on 33 to reduce Arunachal Pradesh to 83/4 in 24.1 overs.
Licha also found a good partner in Kamsha Yangfo but their partnership yielded only 40 runs as Kamsha Yangfo (29 off 31) holed out to Longjam Ronald off the Naesh Hussain bowling in the 35th over.
Licha John was unbeaten on 34 off 102 balls with Myendung Singpho 0 at the close of the day.