9th MNCA Elite Tournament PlayoffsBishworjit picks five as PTRC cruise into final; CHAMP CC outlast TRAU to confirm Qualifier-II berth

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 10 : PTRC, Patsoi Part IV overcame CYCLONE, Thangmeiband by 5 wickets in the first qualifier of the 9th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Tournament to book a final ticket as the playoffs began.
The day also saw CHAMP CC, Khagempalli outlast TRAU, Kwakeithel by 7 wickets in the eliminator to set up the second qualifier date with CYCLONE for the remaining final ticket.
PTRC, who have been unbeaten throughout the league stage, made it to the final by cruising to winning 93 in 20.3 overs at Moijing Public Ground, Thoubal after bowling out toss winners CYCLONE for 91 runs in 22.1 overs.
Konthoujam Bishorjit (5/17 in 5.1 overs) was unstoppable today as he wreaked havoc across the CYCLONE batting line up picking five wickets after RK Rex undone both the openers including Ninthoujam Thoiba 21 off 15 to reduce them to 35/2 in 4.3 overs.
Muhammad Al Bashid 14 off 35 and Laishram Kishan 11 off 22 were the other double digit run getters for CYCLONE in the first innings that also saw Pheiroijam Jotin and Khangembam Santosh picking up a wicket apiece.
Chasing the lowly total, PTRC too did not have best of the start and slumped to 30/3 in 8.4 overs as Reolin Oinam removed L Shitaljit on duck for the first wicket and Md Aqeel removed Ngariyanbam Jameson and Johnson on 3 runs apiece.
PTRC further slipped to 47/4 with Kishan Laishram removing Ph Jotin on 7 before Nongthombam Denin bowled out Khangembam Santosh on 38 off 59 for the fifth wicket in the 15th over.
From 61/5, RK Rex 29 not out and Chingakham Bidash 9 not out the steered PTRC to winning 93.
Konthoujam Bishworjit was eventually adjudged player of the match.
Elsewhere at Lairenjam Public Ground, CHAMP CC chased down a target of 174 runs with 7 wickets left to spare against TRAU in the only eliminator to keep their title hopes alive.
TRAU, opted to bat first, but faced opposition from CHAMP CC bowlers and eventually ended up scoring 173 runs for 7 wickets in 40 overs despite Moibungkhongbam Behul's 64-ball 41, Kangabam Priyojit's 43-ball 25 and Nongmaithem Bishworjit's 38-ball 39.
In reply, Nawaz (32 off 32) and Yumnam Karnajit (80-ball 61; 5 fours and 1 six) set the momentum by forging 62 runs for the first wickets before Nawaz was dismissed by Mutum Swabhiman. Karnajit held on to complete his half century and stitched together 45 runs with Leikhram Johny until he was trapped lbw by Behul for the second wicket.
CHAMP also lost Samir on 1 but Johny 39 off 74 and Md Sultan Karim 35 off 36 produced an unbeaten third wicket partnership to seal the victory in 25.2 overs.
Md Sultan Karim who produced an allround performance was adjudged player of the match.