Shillong, Oct 28: Sikkim batted for two entire sessions today to force a draw in their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 plate group match against Meghalaya at the MCA Ground here.
Resuming their second innings on 96/2, Sikkim held out until the game was brought to a premature close at tea as no result was possible. The visitors finished on 303/7. They had been dismissed for 346 in their first innings, to which Meghalaya had responded with 405 all out. With a first innings lead, Meghalaya were awarded 3 points while Sikkim received 1.
Ashish Thapa was the hero for Sikkim as he crafted an innings of 117 from 189 deliveries to hold out against the Meghalaya attack. He resumed the day’s play on 49, got his fifty and then went for the century, his fourth in first-class cricket, before he got out to Ajay Duhan (1/85).
K Sai Satwik was on 19 not out yesterday evening and finally fell for 52 today, caught and bowled by Aryan Borah (1/44). Kranthi Kumar also got to 50 exactly before having his stumps disturbed by Swastic Chettri (1/36), which was the latter’s first wicket on his senior team debut.
Akash Chaudhary also claimed one wicket today, that of Sikkim’s first innings centurion Gurinder Singh for 28, and the Meghalaya fast bowler finished with figures of 3/56 to go along with his impressive haul of 5/85 in the first innings.
In recognition for his sensational double century, Meghalaya’s wicketkeeper-batter Arpit Bhatewara was named the Player of the Match.
Meghalaya will now go on the road for their next game, which will be against Bihar in Patna from 1 November.
