5th MNCA Superplate Trophy 2025-26 PCC, MPSC through to final; earn Elite Group promotion

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 20 : PCC, Mayaikoibi and MPSC, Manipur Central Jail reached the 5th MNCA Superplate Trophy final and earned their promotion to Elite Group (State’s top-flight division).
PCC, Mayai Koibi reached the final with a 72-run victory over AKSDO at Model Hr Sec and Oriental College ground courtesy of a concerted bowling effort from Mathurabashimayum Jobanta, Longjam Ronald, Soubam Ruhit, Thokchom Anand, and Takhelmayum Vikash.
PCC, who opted to bat first, were restricted to 178/8 as Winchelly of AKSDO excelled with the ball and returned with a fifer (5/41 in 7 overs) but PCC bowlers did a tremendous job to bundle them out for a meagre total of 106 runs in 31.3 overs to seal the huge win.
Charoibam Tyson 26 off 25, Thokchom Lucky 26 off 24, Longjam Ronald 24 off 37, Khangembam Bobby 21 not out off 18, and Thokchom Anand 20 off 35 were the leading run getters for PCC in the first innings that also saw Saikhom Kaiku (2/19) and Laishram Akash (1/33) sharing three wickets for the Khangabok side.
In reply, Laishram Samson 24 off 31, Khundongbam Khamba 22 off 37, and Bishorjit Mangang 11 off 27 were the only double digit run getters before Mathurabashimayum Jobanta bowled Laishram Rosan out on a 12-ball 3 to put AKSDO chase to sword at 106 and finished with the best bowling figures of 3/22 in 5.3 overs.
Longjam Ronald (2/16 in 7 overs) and Soubam Rohit (2/25 in 7 overs) also proved fatal to AKSDO as they shared another four crucial wickets while Thokchom Anand (1/18) and T Vikash (1/10) chipped in with a wicket apiece.
Longjam Ronald, who scored 24 runs and picked 2 wickets to set up the big win for PCC, was adjudged player of the match.
Elsewhere at Khudeiband Lampak, MPSC outlasted RULE, Meitram by 1 wicket in a thrilling semi-final clash to seal their place in the final.
RULE posted 147/9 in the allotted 35 overs on the back of standalone batting show from Sanjenbam Suresh who added a slow but significant 73 off 95 balls before MPSC fought their way to the target in 32.1 overs with just 1 wicket left to spare.
Sarangthem Sangkar was pick of the MPSC bowlers as he collected 4 wickets (4/33 in 7 overs) to break the backbone of the RULE line up as Habibullah Ahammed (2/38), Thoudam Gelson (2/18), and Soubam Kingson (1/23) shared another 5 wickets to put the RULE run rate in check.
In reply, Nongthombam Sarojkumar (4/28 in 7 overs), Thokchom Kishan (2/30 in 6 overs), Jay Singh (2/32), and Sanjenbam Ananda (1/34) toiled hard to pile pressure on MPSC but Thounaojam Rakesh (30 not out off 42) held his nerve to take MPSC to the target with Habibullah 1 not out off 4.
Sagolshem Sunil 31 off 37, Thokchom Somorjit 27 off 41, and Soubam Kingson 26 off 27 had earlier made notable contributions for MPSC before things got tight towards the end of the innings.
Sarangthem Shangker, who led the MPSC bowling attack, was adjudged player of the match.