10th MNCA Elite Trophy TRAU beat RCA by 4 wickets for 8th win, KCC end 8-game losing run

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 9 : TRAU, Kwakeithel are all but qualified for the 4-team playoff in the 10th MNCA Elite trophy as they defeated RCA, Lilong by 4 wickets for the 8th win in 9 matches of the 12-team tournament.
They bundled out RCA for a paltry total of 113 runs in 33.1 overs after electing to field first and eased to the winning 119 runs for 6 wickets in 26.2 overs despite Naesh Hussain’s all round heroics.
RCA had a disastrous start and slumped to 45/6 in 14.5 overs with Somorjit Salam (3/20) doing the early damage before Naesh Hussain came in at number 8 and added the highest 46 off 47 balls.
Puinachandra Anouba (2/24) and Sanjembam Somokanta (2/24) also shared 4 wickets for TRAU while Ningthoujam Sanjit (1/18), Priyojit Kangabam (1/9) and Mutum Swabhiman (1/17) managed a wicket apiece to set up the RCA collapse at 113.
Chasing 114 for the victory, TRAU faced stiff opposition from the RCA bowlers and were reduced to 65/6 before Priyojit Kangabam and Ningthoujam Sanjit forged an unbeaten 54-run partnership for the 7th wicket to steer TRAU to 119. Both of them were unbeaten on 29 as they sealed the victory.
With the win, they boosted their chances for top-two finish in the league round as the top two teams will advance to the qualifier 1 that will decide the first finalists. The 3rd and 4th placed teams will meanwhile play in an eliminator match for a place in the second qualifier (to be played with the losers of the first qualifier). The winners of the second qualifier will then face  off against the first finalists for the title of the season.
Elsewhere at Lairenjam Public Ground, KCC, Kongba Bazar ended their 8-game losing run by defeating Model Club, Singjamei by 5 wickets.
KCC rode on Wahengbam Somorjit (4/9) and Nameirakpam Arbin (2/15) to dismantle Model Club for 87 runs in 22.3 overs before Nameirakpam Arbin 30 not out off 46 balls and Wahengbam Somorjit 31 off 33 took the team to the target in 20.2 overs despite Dibak Naorem of Model enjoying a five wicket haul (5/29).
For Model Club, M Langlonyamba added highest 31 in the first innings that also saw Sunil Salam, Thokchom Nishikanta and Dingku G claiming a wicket apiece for KCC.