Shillong, Dec 16: Meghalaya were in a spot of bother on the first day of their U-19 men’s Cooch Behar Trophy 2025-26 plate group match against Mizoram but recovered to post 219 all out in their first innings in Anand, Gujarat, today.
At stumps, Mizoram were 129/5, trailing by 90 runs.
Meghalaya won the toss and chose to bat first but slipped to 132/7 before Rudra Singh Rathor (55 from 88 balls, 11x4s) and the tailenders got the team over 200 in the must-win match.
Mannan Surana contributed 31 (51 balls, 4x4s) at the top of the order and Dipayan Nandi 37 (60 balls, 6x4s) – together making 64 for the second wicket – but other batters missed out as Mizoram’s Chhuankima (4/68) and the other bowlers broke through the defences time and again. From 76/1, Meghalaya lost a further six wickets for 56 runs and were staring at the possibility of a sub-200 score.
However, Rudra knuckled down with the tail, putting on 54 with Mewankitbok Kharpuri (21 from 34, 4x4s). Number 11 Grish Raj Ray also entertained with 16 made from just five deliveries, which included one four and two sixes.
Namewanki Pakyntein then removed three of the first four Mizoram batters to scoop up figures of 3/25 in 9 overs. Mewankitbok, who opened the bowling with his leg spin, took 1/27 in 10 and Gaurav Narleng 1/27 from 5. Mizoram has Malsawmmuanzela at the crease on 32 not out. The captain has faced just 26 deliveries, hitting four fours and a couple of sixes in his knock so far.
