Manipur U19 men seal 4th NECDC Inter State Friendship Cup title

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Apr 11 : Manipur overwhelmed Mizoram by 72 runs to seal the title of the 4th NECDC U-19 Men’s Inter State Friendship Cup 2026 hosted by the Nagaland Cricket Association.
Asked to bat first Manipur raised a modest total of 233 for all wickets down in 49.5 overs courtesy of half century knocks from Lucky Th and Robinson Sougaijam before bowlers made a concerted effort to dismiss toss winners Mizoram for 161 runs in 43.1 overs.
Manipur faced early jitters losing Md Ali Karim cheaply but Lucky Thokchom and Robinson combined well to add 122 runs for the second wicket to change the complexion of the innings.
Lucky’s departure on 72 off 82 balls after knocking 7 fours and 2 sixes, was the turning point of the innings as Manipur wickets kept tumbling in regular intervals including Robinson on 62 off 122 balls for the fifth wicket.
Md Danish who came in at number 7 also played a 30-ball 30 knock as Urikhimbam Rain 16 off 13 balls and Mutum Swabhiman 15 not out off 8 balls too contributed double digit scores for Manipur before collapsing at 233.
Henry Lallawmzuala was the pick of the Mizoram batters  as he returned with a haul of four wickets (4/35) in his spell of 3.5 overs while VL Chhuankima 2/37, Lalrinfela 2/46 and Eric Zonuntluanga 2/37 shared a bulk of 6 wickets.
In reply, Lalramluahpuia Zote 62 off 59 balls did his best to anchor but Manipur bowlers worked in tandem to keep run rate under check while also dismissing their rivals regularly  until Swabhiman removed the final sting by bowling out Lalrinfela in the 1st delivery of the 44th over.
Yumnam Chingkheinganba (2/21 in 9 overs), Naeesh (2/24 in 6 overs) and Swabhiman (2/33 in 9.1 overs) shared 6 crucial wickets in this innings as Reolin Oinam (1/10), Md Danish Khan (1/18) and Lucky Th (1/32) chipped in a wicket apiece.