Meghalaya were outmatched by Manipur, with the latter winning their Plate Group match of the Men’s U-25 State A Trophy by 174 runs in Guwahati today.
Manipur won the toss and posted 281/6 in 50 overs after opting to bat first. In response, Meghalaya were all out for 107 in 28.5 overs.
Meghalaya were a little wayward in their bowling, with 37 extras conceded, including 27 wides but Manipur had gone at a good, but not rapid pace throughout their innings and brought up 200 on the scoreboard in 43.4 overs.
That all changed when the fifth wicket fell and Bikash Singh came to the crease. Given 24 balls in which to inflict as much carnage as he possibly could, he struck 62 runs, with seven fours and four sixes.
Three Meghalaya bowlers took two wickets each but it was Agreas Chamcham Sangma who finished with the best figures of 2/20 in 10 overs, which included four maidens. The other successful bowlers were Mukesh Kumar Ray (2/46) and Bibek Poudel (2/60).
Bikash returned with the ball to make life difficult for the Meghalaya batters. He scalped five wickets but there was some resistance at the top of the order from Arien B Sangma, who made 26. However, he was not the top scorer today for Meghalaya, as Poudel came in at No. 9 to make 27, while Ray (16) and Abhishek Kumar (11 not out) also got into double figures.
Meghalaya will now get a day’s break before they face hosts Assam on Tuesday.
