MPSC vs KCC in 4th MNCA Luwangpokpa T-20 Trophy title clash

IMPHAL: MPSC, Manipur Central Jail will face off against KCC-Kongba Bazar in the ultimate clash of the 4th MNCA Luwangpokpa T-20 Trophy.

MPSC booked their final ticket with a 4 wicket win over WYC-Wangkhem today in a semi-final match at Lairenjam Public Ground.

WYC, who had a brilliant Group campaign, opted to bat first but were bowled out for 110 runs in 19.5 overs and saw MPSC cruise to winning 113 in 19.1 overs with 4 wickets left to spare.

Maibam Bijoykumar (3/23 in 3.5 overs), Gelson Thoudam (2/15 in 4 overs) and Sarangthem Shangker (2/21) proved troublesome to WYC batters and it was only Laishram Rajesh who produced a heroic performance to add highest 56 off 42 balls to take WYC past the 100 run mark.

Maibam Bijoykumar  gave WYC early jitters removing Herokumar on a 3-ball duck in the first over before Oinam Rojit removed W Shamungou on 1 and Koijam Indraban removed Borish Khomdram on 4 to reduce them to 21/3 in 4.5 overs.

The slumped continued with Gelson Thoudam trapping W Laksmon lbw on 4 and setting up Ruhit Nongmaithem dismissal for the fourth and the 6th wicket, and Sharangthem Shangker getting rid of Gotimayum Mangi on 13 to leave WYC struggling at 44/6 in 11.3 overs.

Laishram Rajesh who came in at 7 then clobbered 5 fours and 3 sixes en route to his 42-ball 56 to revive the innings before he was dismissed by Sarangthem Shangker for the 7th wicket in the 4th delivery of the 19th over as the scoreboard read 105.

Huirongbam Biteshwor then got run out on 9 in the first delivery of the 20th over before Maibam Bijoykumar bowled out Th Roshankumar 1 and Priyananda Thokchom 0 in the fourth and the fifth deliveries of the 20th over.

Chasing 111 for the win, MPSC had a cautious start and slipped to 75/5 in 14.4 overs as W Laksmon got rid of S Shangker 6 and Gelson Thoudam 31 and Ruhit Nongmaithem undone Ng Sudesh 3 and bowled out Soubam Kingson 5 after G Mangi trapped S Sunil lbw on 6 for the first wicket in the 6th over.

Huirongbam Biteshwor went on to remove M Bijoykumar on 14 for the 6th wicket in the 17th over. With 18-balls required in 18 deliveries, Potsangbam Bonem (19 not out off 20 balls) who came in at five and Chingangam Lokeshwor (10 not out off 7 balls) produced an unbeaten 20-run partnership for the 7th wicket in 13 balls to take MPSC to 113.

Gelson Thoudam was named man of the match.

Elsewhere at Model Hr Sec and Oriental College Ground, KCC cruised to 122/7 in 15.3 overs for a three wicket victory after UCC-Uripok Kangchup Road, who won the toss and elected to bat first, were restricted to 117/9.

UCC had a stuttering start and wickets kept falling in regular intervals before posting 117 for 9 wickets as Hijam Boba broke the back of their line up by picking up three crucial wickets (3/20 in 3 overs).

His scalps included highest run getter Thangjam Anson (31off 23 balls) after Tayenjam Tomba removed T Amarjit on 4 for the first wicket and Nameirakpam Arbin got rid of L Bishorjit and H Ajitkumar for the second and the third wickets to finish with the bowling figures of 2/14 in 2 overs. Tayenjam Tomba too found his second wicket in the form of Konsam Gulson who added 23 runs off 10 balls.

In reply, Keisham Mranojit 23 and Rohen Singh 43 set up the foundation for MPSC with a 51-run partnership for the first wicket before both of them fell to Konsam Gulsan's back to back overs (8th and 10th).

 Laishram Bushon then wreaked havoc to reduce them to 106/7 in 15 overs by sweeping four wickets alone (4/32 in 4 overs).

Their lowly target however proved costly as Keisham Basantakumar blasted off 2 fours and 3 sixes to add an unbeaten 27 off 6 deliveries to take MPSC to 122 in 15.3 overs.

Hijam Boba who picked three wickets and added crucial 15 runs in the chase was adjudged man of the match.