Bishworjit, Jotin steal show on Day 3 as Manipur register an innings and 119-run victory

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Nov 3 : After a prolific batting display from top order batters, Bishworjit and Jotin wreaked havoc across the Arunachal Pradesh line up to script an innings and 119-run victory in the third tie of Ranji Trophy Plate Group within three days at Narendra Modi Stadium Ground ‘B’, Motera, Ahmedabad.
Manipur declared their first innings at 505/3 (after 106.2 overs) thanks to century knocks from Yumnam Karnajit (146 off 189; 20 fours), Khwairakpam Ulenyai (103 off 165; 17 fours); Longjam Ronald (101 off 176; 6 fours and 1 six) and half century knocks from Ngariyanbam Johnson (95 off 89; 10 fours and 1 six) and Kangabam Priyojit (52 off 19; 6 fours and 4 sixes).
Manipur then rode on Konthoujam Bishworjit (4/41 in 19 overs) and Pheiroijam Jotin (3/56 in 13 overs) to bundle out Arunachal Pradesh, who resumed the third day at 125/5, for 247 runs to enjoy a 255-run innings lead.
RK Rex (1/35 in 12 overs), Kishan Singha (1/58 in 20 overs), and Naesh Hussain (1/30 in 9 overs) also chipped in a wicket apiece in this innings that saw Myendung Singpho 77 off 132 and Licha Jhon 59 off 151 led the scoring for Arunachal Pradesh.
Manipur asked Arunachal Pradesh to follow on, but it was another forgettable innings for the team as they were dismissed for a paltry total of 139 runs within 48.3 overs with Bishworjit (4/27 in 15 overs), Jotin (2/20 in 13 overs), and Kishan Singha (2/32 in 8 overs) inflicting major damage.
Techi Neri 37 off 69, Neelam Obi 28 off 45 and Kamsha Yangfo 20 off 38 were the leading scorer for Arunachal Pradesh in their second innings as Bishworjit made early inroad by dismissing opener Abhishek Mrinnal and incoming Licha Jhon on ducks to reduce them to 1/2 within 2.4 overs.
Wickets kept falling as RK Rex also joined the fray to dismiss AE Sakrola on 10 for the third wicket before Bishorjit completed his haul of three wickets by removing Neelam Obi for the fourth wicket.
Spinner Kishan Singha further reduced Arunachal Pradesh to 91/5 by dismissing Techi Neri before Pheiroijam Jotin broke the backbone of their rivals by getting rid of K Yangpho and Myendung Singpho.
Bishworjit then bowled out Yab Niya for the 8th wicket and to complete his haul of another four wickets of the match and Kishan bowled out Nabam Natung for the 9th wicket before Naesh Hussain trapped Darge Bagra lbw on 10 to put Arunachal Pradesh to sword. Eventually Bishworjit returned with the match haul of 8 wickets while Jotin registered 6 wickets.
With the win, Manipur earned 7 points and temporarily went atop Plate Group table on 11 points (3 points from first tie against Sikkim, 1 point from second tie against Bihar).
Manipur will play Mizoram in the next match beginning on November 8 at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium, Anand.