Shillong, Dec 18: Meghalaya were knocked out of the U-19 men’s Cooch Behar Trophy 2025-26 plate group after Mizoram put in a stunning fourth innings chase to win by 3 wickets on the third day in Anand, Gujarat, today.
Set 248 to win, which would have been the highest score either side had made in this match, Mizoram were led by half-centuries from Mapuia (77), Chhuankima (67) and Valpuia (67) to take the game away from Meghalaya, who had otherwise held the edge on both preceding days.
To recap, Meghalaya made 219 all out in their first innings and then bowled Mizoram out for 177. With a first innings lead, Meghalaya were then dismissed for 205, leaving Mizoram 248 to win, with their second innings beginning today morning.
Defeat means that Meghalaya will not qualify for the final of the plate group, which will instead be contested by Manipur and Nagaland. Mizoram had only won one of their previous four matches before today, which was against bottom side Arunachal Pradesh, while Meghalaya had won three and lost just one to leaders Manipur.
Mizoram had two batters dismissed in the eighth over by Mewankitbok Kharpuri (3/38) but opener Mapuia and Chhuankima (who had impressed as a bowler with eight wickets across Meghalaya’s two innings) put on a whopping 111 for the third wicket before Chhuankima became Namewanki Pakyntein’s (1/22) only victim of the innings.
Meghalaya would have hoped that this would provide them an opening into the rest of the batting line-up but Chhuankima was replaced by Valpuia, who also hit 67. He and Mapuia added a further 71 in a fourth wicket stand and that appeared to be the end of Meghalaya.
However, just then there was another sliver of hope with Mapuia falling to Angkit Tamang (3/25), followed shortly by first innings top scorer Malsawmmuanzela (4). Mizoram’s Eric, though, provided stubborn resistance while Valpuia inched their team closer to the target. By the time both were removed, Mizoram were just 9 runs away from victory, while Meghalaya had a spring in their step as they were now just 3 wickets from snatching the win.
It was not to be for Meghalaya, however, as Ngaihsaka (5 not out) and Stephen (7 not out) got Mizoram over the finish line, the latter hitting a four for the winning runs.
Despite defeat, third-placed Meghalaya still finished higher than fourth-placed Mizoram in the standings, with 18 points to 13.
