Meghalaya had a tough opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match against Madhya Pradesh in Rajkot, Gujarat, today.
Winning the toss was a positive for Meghalaya but they were skittled for just 61 after lunch and then saw their opponents make 141/2 by stumps, giving MP a lead of 80 runs.
Wanlambok Nongkhlaw returned to the playing eleven today after being left out of the opener last week and top-scored with 19, which included four boundaries in front of square on both sides of the wicket.
Only one other batter got into double figures – Kishan Lyngdoh (11). Meghalaya’s batting mainstays, the guest professionals Chirag Khurana and Punit Bisht were unceremoniously dismissed for ducks, while Ravi Teja managed only eight runs.
MP batted for another session and a half in leisurely fashion, not going above three runs an over. They lost their first wicket with 56 on the board, with Rameez Khan caught by Teja off the bowling of Abhishek Kumar Chaudhary (1/35). Aryan Bora (1/21) then trapped the other opening batter, Ajay Rohera, lbw for 26 but MP were able to see off the remaining 13 overs in the day without further loss.
