5th MNCA Superplate Tournament RULE beat TCMDC by 9 runs, Blue Hawk thump UCC by 7 wickets

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jan 5 :  RULE, Meitram pulled off a narrow 9-run victory over TCMDC, Thongju Part II Pechu Lampak as Blue Hawk, Khurai notched up a 7-wicket win over UCC, Kangchup Road in today’s matches of the ongoing 5th MNCA Superplate Tournament.
In the Group A match staged at Model Hr Sec and Oriental College playground, RULE, who were asked to bat first, posted a modest total of 195/7 in the allotted 35 overs before successfully defending their total by bundling out TCMDC for 186 runs in 34.4 overs.
Jay Singh and Naoshekpam Manglemba scored identical 42 runs off the same 49 deliveries for RULE followed by Sanjenbam Ananda 35 off 30, Sanjenbam Suresh 22 off 44, and Suraj 16 off 15.
The innings saw Rain Urikhinbam (2/34) claim two wickets as N Arbin, L Valindra and L Vishonath shared another three wickets.
In reply, TMCDC had a promising start but slumped to 186 all out despite efforts from  L Vivekananda (39 off 44)   and Rain (50 off 47; 5 fours) as Jay Singh broke the backbone of the line up and returned with the haul of 4 wickets (4/55 in 6.4 overs) after N Sarojkumar (1/36) and S Ananda (1/16)  picked a wicket apiece.
Jay Singh, who shone with both the bat and the ball to earn RULE’s second win in three matches that included a tie, was adjudged player of the match.
Elsewhere at Khudeiband Lampak, Blue Hawk chased down a target of 143 runs at the cost of 3 wickets within 20.3 overs to seal their third win in four Group B matches.
After winning the toss, UCC elected to bat first and added 172 for the loss of 8 wickets courtesy of a half century knock from Langpoklakpam Bipinkumar (62 off 69 balls; 5 fours and 3 sixes) but Blue Hawk’s Nongthombam Ajit shone with a 52-ball 87 filled with 13 fours and 2 sixes before Amom Guniram (48 not out off 48 balls; 5 fours and 2 sixes) took the team to the target with W Farid (2 not out off 3 balls).
Earlier in the first innings, A Guniram enjoyed a three wicket haul (3/38 in 7 overs) as N Jackiechand (2/33), S Sem (1/18), and D Saheer (1/32) shared four wickets among them.
For UCC, Th Yoihenba (1/21), L Roshan (1/22), and Somorjit (1/9) claimed a wicket apiece.