9th MNCA Elite Tournament CYCLONE outlast CHAMP CC by 50 runs, to meet PTRC in title clash

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 12 : CYCLONE, Thangmeiband outlasted CHAMP CC, Khagempalli by 50 runs in the second qualifier of the playoffs of the 9th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Tournament at Moijing Public Ground, Thoubal.
With the win, CYCLONE set up the final date of the top tier men's club cricket tournament with PTRC, Patsoi Part IV  who had beaten them (CYCLONE) earlier in the first qualifier to reach the final without any loss.
The winners of the eliminator, CHAMP CC put CYCLONE to bat first after winning the toss today and successfully bowled them out for 158 runs in 34.2 overs riding on exemplary bowling performances from Chingakham Ranjan, Keisham Kenedy and Sultan Karim.
Chasing 159 for the win, CHAMP lost wickets in regular intervals and slumped to 108 all out in 29.2 overs despite Md Sultan Karim holding on with an unbeaten on 39 off 46 balls (5 fours) as Md Aqeel ran through their line up to finish with a fifer (5/20 in 7 overs) with the assistance of Loktongbam Santosh (2/23 in 5.2 overs) and Nongthombam Denin (1/22) and Laishram Kishan (1/14). Nawaz 17, Yumnam Sunder 11 and Md Ahsanul Kabir 10 also managed double digit runs for CHAMP in a lost cause.
For CYCLONE, Md Al Bashid was 1 run shy from completing a half century in 78 deliveries as Reolin Oinam 19, Abdul Kasim 14 and Md Aqeel 13 managed double digit scores.
Chingakham Ranjan of CHAMP returned with the best bowling figures of 4/42 as Md Sultan Karim finished with 3/23 and Keisham Kennedy finished with a two wicket haul (2/20).
Eventually, Md Aqeel who was unstoppable with his bowling today for CYCLONE walked away with the man of the match trophy.
The final match is slated for March 14 at Model Higher Secondary School and Oriental College ground.