10th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Trophy Jotin picks five, hits 58 as PTRC crush TRAU by 6 wickets for 9th win, assure top-two finish

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 11 : Title favourites and defending champions PTRC, Patsoi Part IV are assured of a top-two league round finish in the 10th MNCA W Prahlada and W Ramananda Elite Trophy as they defeated TRAU by 6 wickets for the 9th win in 10 matches at Model Hr Sec and Oriental College ground.
The result also meant that they have qualified for the first qualifier in the playoff consisting of two qualifiers (1st to be played between top two teams and 2nd to be played between losers of the first qualifier and the winners of the eliminator) and one eliminator (to be played between the third and fourth placed teams).
Star player Pheiroijam Jotin once again delivered in the team’s 9th win today as he produced a crucial knock of 58 runs off 53 balls after enjoying a fifer and led in dismantling TRAU for 136 runs within 36 overs.
Asked to bat first, TRAU had a torrid time early on and were reduced to 7/2 in 3.1 overs with RK Rex removing Prafullomani on a 2-ball duck in the first over and Jotin removing Behul Moibungkhongbam on 3 in the fourth over.
TRAU did their best to stabilise the innings courtesy of Priyojit Kangabam and Sanjenbam Somokanta who added 68 runs off 124 balls until Jotin bowled out Priyojit on a 73-ball 23 for the third wicket in the 24th over.
Tamarland Pheiroijam then dismissed incoming Ningthoujam Sanjit for the fourth wicket before Jotin removed TRAU’s star performer of the day, Sanjembam Somorjit on an 82-ball 56 for the fifth wicket.
Pacer Konthoujam Bishworjit was close to complete a rare hattrick as he cleaned up L Ishorchandra, Mutum Swabhiman and H Luching in the 3rd, 4th and the final delivery of the 35th over to further reduce TRAU to 125/8.
Jotin returned to action yet again and dismissed Tyrus Chabungbam 24 off 31 balls and A Puinachandra in the last two deliveries of the 36th over to set up the TRAU collapse at 136.
Jotin returned with the best figures of 5/22 in 7 overs as Bishworjit posted 3/23 in 7 overs.
In reply, PTRC started slowly and slumped to 24/3 in 9 overs but Khangembam Santosh and Jotin stitched together a remarkable partnership of 112 runs off 129 balls to put the team in a sniffing distance of a win.
PTRC were one run away from the win when Jotin 58  holed out to Ningthoujam Sanjit off the bowling off Puinachandra and Khangembam Santosh completed his unbeaten 51 off a single to seal the victory in style with RK Rex (0 not out off 3 balls).
Sanjit returned with the best figures of 2/21 for TRAU as M Swabhiman and Puinachandra claimed a wicket apiece.
Elsewhere at Moijing Public Ground, SCCC, Singjamei are temporarily out of the relegation zone as they beat YWC, Langthabal by 6 wickets for their third win in 10 matches leaving CRAU and KCC in last two bottom places.
Khaidem Joyraj (3/19), Khaidem Lishan (3/16) and Bikash (2/31) led in bundling YWC-L out for 119 runs in 33.1 overs after SCCC opted to field first. Ulenyai Khwairakpam then hit a sensible 62-ball 51 while N Bijenkumar added 26 off 31 balls to help SCCC post 123/4 within 20.5 overs. Heisnam Manikanta added the highest 26 off 43 balls for YWC-L today before Yumnam Chingkhei Nganba returned with 2/24 in a lost cause.