Shillong, Dec 2: Meghalaya had an excellent second day in the U-19 men’s Cooch Behar Trophy 2025-26 plate group match against Arunachal Pradesh and are 298/5 in their second innings, with Angkit Tamang on the cusp of a century at the MCA Ground here today.
Meghalaya are in a solid position as they lead by 367 at stumps. Earlier, Arunachal resumed their first innings on 94/6 in search of Meghalaya’s first innings total of 205. However, the visitors were dismissed for 136, giving Meghalaya a 69-run first innings lead.
Arunachal had a rocky start in the morning and were further reduced to 96/8 as pace bowlers Gaurav Narleng and Apandanka Marak struck early. However, some late resistance from Armaan Jain (25 not out) saw Arunachal reach 136.
Narleng was Meghalaya’s most successful bowler with 3/28 in 9 overs, while leg spinner Mewankitbok Kharpuri bagged 3/31 in 15.2 overs. Apandanka (2/26 in 11), Benedict Jones Makdoh (1/15 in 3) and Angkit (1/16 in 6) were the other wicket-takers.
Meghalaya needed to improve on their first innings performance but lost an early wicket and then saw opener Sameer Choudhury retired hurt.
Dipayan Nandi and Narleng then came together to make 83 together in very quick time, requiring just 86 deliveries. Dipayan, especially, had an excellent day, striking 94 from just 80 balls with 15 fours and one six. He was on course for a century when he went for one expansive off drive too many and top-edged the ball into the hands of Nabam Gania behind point.
Narleng was then out for 32 but his namesake Gaurav Jyoti Thakuria and Angkit took up the mantle of responsibility and put on 131. They pair almost made it to stumps but as evening sun began to wane Thakuria set off for an unlikely run. He was rightly sent back by Angkit but it was too late and Thakuria was run out for 56.
Angkit finished the day on 87 not out from 120 balls, which included seven fours and a six. He has Rudra Singh Rathor (12 not out) at the other end and the two will look to extend Meghalaya’s lead to beyond 400 tomorrow.
