10th MNCA Elite Trophy TRAU thrash KCC by 7 wickets for fifth win

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Feb 22 : TRAU, Kwakeithel crushed KCC, Kongba by 7 wickets for the fifth win in 6 matches of the ongoing 10th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Trophy at Moijing Public Ground today.
TRAU opted to field first and bundled out for 157 runs in 38.3 overs courtesy of fierce bowling performances from Anoubam Puinachandra (3/30), Sanjembam Somokanta (2/32) and Ningthoujam Sanjit (2/31) and chased down the target in 22.5 overs riding on half century knocks from Pukhrambam Prafullomani (79 off 42 balls) and Sanjembam Somokanta (52 not out off 51 balls).
Thokchom Nishikanta 40 off 75 balls, Sunil Salam 32 off 47 balls and Nameirakpam Arbin 31 off 40 balls led the scoring for KCC in the first innings before Nameirakpam Arbin picked two wickets (2/27) and Singthoi Nandeibam (1/28) managed one wicket in a lost cause.
Pukhrambam Prafullomani scored 13 fours and 3 sixes on the way to his 42-ball 79. He gathered 15 runs for the first wicket with M Behul (4-ball duck), 30 runs with Priyojit (2 off 11 balls) before forging 61 runs with Sanjembam Somokanta for the third wicket.
Somokanta meanwhile struck 6 fours and 1 six on the way to his unbeaten 52 and was with Loithongjam Ishorchandra (14 not out off 29 balls) as they amassed 57 runs for the fourth wicket to seal the victory.
Elsewhere at Model Hr Sec and Oriental College Ground, CYCLONE, Thangmeiband beat ESU, Wangkhei Palace Compound by 4 runs for the 4th win in 6 matches.
Asked to bat first, CYCLONE were dismissed for 142 runs in 35.5 overs but ESU mustered on 138 runs for 9 wickets in the chase despite Thangjam Rishi’s unbeaten 31 off 48 balls.
Tennyson (4/32), Thangjam Rishi (3/30) and L Henary (2/20) impressed with the ball for ESU earlier in the first innings that saw Kiran Laishram 36 off 39 balls, Thomsan Moirangthem 34 off 41 led the scoring for CYCLONE.
ESU faced stiff opposition from economical CYCLONE bowlers and four batters departed on run outs badly impacting their rate. Eventually they fell short by 5 runs from securing the victory.
Md Aqeel returned with the best figures of 2/26 as Reolin Oinam, Loktongbam Santosh and Suraj Nong picked up a wicket apiece.