10th MNCA W Prahlada W Ramananda Elite Trophy REYS eliminate TRAU by 2 wickets, to meet CYCLONE in Qualifier-2

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 27 : REYS, Khwai Nagamapal Lamabam Leikai got the better of TRAU, Kwakeithel by 2 wickets in a keenly contested eliminator match of the 10th MNCA W Prahlada W Ramananda Elite Trophy today at Luwangpokpa Cricket Stadium.
TRAU, who finished third in the league round, posted 167/9 in the allotted 40 overs after they were asked to bat first by REYS, who finished fourth. REYS then fought their way to the winning 171 with 2 wickets and 2 deliveries left to spare.
With the win,  REYS set up the Qualifier-2 date with CYCLONE, Thangmeiband who were beaten yesterday in the first qualifier by defending champions, PTRC. The winners between REYS and CYCLONE will play PTRC in the title clash.
TRAU had a sticky start to the first innings and were reduced to 28/2 in 6.1 overs as pacer Sohail Akram trapped P Prafullomani lbw on 12 for the first wicket and set up M Behul catch on 3 for the second wicket.
TRAU’s star batter Priyojit Kangabam and Sanjenbam Somokanta gave the team some hope by adding 63 runs off 116 balls until Ringku Kangujam pinned Somokanta lbw on 29 to break the partnership and reduce TRAU to 91/3.
The slump continued with the incoming batter Ch Tyrus getting run out cheaply on 3 for the fourth wicket and Priyojit Kangabam getting cleaned up by spinner Kiran Laishram on a 98-ball 52 for the 5th wicket in the 33rd over.
Medium pacer Mohammed Shamir then undone L Ishorchandra to pile further pressure and leave TRAU struggling at 140. Ningthoujam Sanjit took TRAU to 150-run mark by hitting Naorem Victor for a six in the first delivery of the 38th over but he was caught and bowled for the 7th wicket on 26 two balls later as the scoreboard read 151.
Md Shamir then dismissed Somorjit and Yumnam Amritakaran in the 4th and the 5th deliveries of the 39th over to reduce TRAU to 159/9 and walked away with the best figures of 3/30 in 7 overs for REYS.
Swabhiman 11 off 4 balls and Puinachandra Anoubam 1 off 5 balls were unbeaten as TRAU ended the innings at 167/9.
In reply, Md Basir Rahman 38 off 55 balls and Md Shamir Khan 20 off 26 balls gave REYS early stability but their condition worsened with their departure. Pressure grew as they slipped to 111/7 in 30.1 overs with Mutum Swabhiman (2/20) and Puinachandra Anoubam (2/37) sharing four crucial wickets but Kiran Laishram and Ringku Kangujam combined well to revive the chase and gathered 55-runs off 55 balls for the 8th wicket until Kiran got run out on 23 in the second delivery of the death over as they were 2 runs away from the win.
After a wide and a dot ball, the new incoming batter Sohail hit Puinachandra for a four to take the team to 171/8 with Ringku 32 not out off 31 on the other end of the crease.
Md Shamir Khan who shone with both the bat and ball was adjudged player of the match.