5th MNCA Superplate Trophy 2025-26 MPSC crush Blue Hawk to become runaway Group B leaders, RULE script 115-run win over FORCE

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 12 : RULE, Meitram intensified their campaign for semi-final qualification in the 5th MNCA Superplate Trophy by thrashing FORCE, Kshetrigao by 115 runs in a Group A league match at Khudeiband Lampak, Taothong.
It was their fourth win in five matches that included a tie with PCC, Mayaikoibi and thus rose on top of the 8-team Group table.
Asked to bat first, RULE posted a commanding total of 241/6 as Sanjenbam Suresh 74 off 91, Jay Singh 65 off 54 and Thokchom Kishan 40 off 21 exploited FORCE bowlers and bundled out the latter team for 126 runs in 32.2 overs riding on Nongthombam Sarojkumar (3/14 in 7 overs), Sanjenbam Indrakumar (2/16 in 4.2 overs), and Sanjenbam Ananda (2/19 in 5 overs).
RULE had a solid start despite losing Lenin on 18 for the first wicket at 36 as Suresh and Jay combined well to forge  112-runs for the second wicket.
Jay hit 5 fours and 3 sixes on the way to his quickfire 65 before he was dismissed by Tashib Alam for the second wicket in the 26th over as the scoreboard read 148.
Tashib Alam also dismissed incoming N Manglemba on 1 the same over to reduce RULE to 150/3 but Suresh found a good partner in Thokchom Kishan and the duo forged another 70-run partnership until Kishan was bowled out by Md Abdul Razaque on a 21-ball 40 (4 fours and 2 sixes) for the fourth wicket in the 32nd over.
Suresh, who clobbered 8 fours and 1 six on the way to his 91-ball 74, got run out in the 34th over after inflicting much damage.
Suraj was unbeaten on 11 off 11 as RULE closed out the innings at 241/6.
Tashib Alam returned with the best bowling figures of 2/45 in 7 overs for FORCE as Abdul Razaque finished with 1/47 in 7 overs before they had a forgettable chase.
Shamirul Haque 26 off 23, Jaheer 22 off 31, Najir Ali 21 off 31, and Md Kabir Ahmed 20 off 40 were the only double digit run getters for FORCE in their innings as Nongthombam Sarojkumar, Sanjenbam Indrakumar, and Sanjenbam Ananda shared 7 key wickets while Thokchom Kishan (1/23) and Jay Singh (1/20) picked a wicket apiece.
Sanjenbam Suresh was adjudged player of the match.
Elsewhere at Model Hr Secondary and Oriental College ground, MPSC overwhelmed Blue Hawk, Khurai by 8 wickets for 6 of 6 Group B wins and entered the semi-finals as runaway group winners.
Toss winners Blue Hawk were bundled out for 137 runs in 32.1 overs despite Amom Guniram’s 60-ball 50 as Sarangthem Shangker (4/35 in 7 overs) and Habibullah Ahammad (4/34 in 6 overs) wreaked havoc to share 8 wickets.
In response, Gelson Thoudam scored an unbeaten 69 off 61 balls to take MPSC to winning 139/2 in 17.3 overs with Sarangthem Shangker 25 not out off 11.
Gelson struck 11 fours and 1 six on the way to his 69 not out as Shangker hit 3 fours and 1 six to remain unbeaten on  25 off just 11 balls.
Shangker who shone with both the bat and ball was adjudged player of the match.
KSDO will play CDCC in a Group A match tomorrow at Model Hr Sec and Oriental College ground while NCA will play Al-Ameen in a Group B match at Khangabok Cherapur Public Ground.