Advantage Meghalaya in Ranji match vs Sikkim

Shillong: As many as six Meghalaya bowlers took wickets to dismiss Sikkim for 219 in their first innings of their Ranji Trophy plate group match in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. At stumps Meghalaya were 101/2, 118 runs behind. Meghalaya won the toss in their final group match and chose to field first. Five wickets before lunch saw Sikkim reduced to 81/5, but the ‘hosts’ (playing their home games in Odisha) went into the break on 115 without further loss. Resistance to Meghalaya came largely from Milind Kumar, who struck 117 off 129 balls. He was given some support from BB Sharma (27) and Jahan Uddin (20 not out), but Sikkim were eventually dismissed for 219. Guest/professional spinner Gurinder Singh took 3/71, but there was a wicket each for five other Meghalaya bowlers – Chengkam Sangma (1/10), Raj Biswa (1/14), Mark Ingty (1/15), Dipu Sangma (1/27) and Aditya Singhania (1/39). Ingty was making his return to the state team after a spell of injury. In their first innings, Meghalaya lost Laxman Chettri and captain Jason Lamare early on, but opening batsman Biswa and Gurinder then combined to put on a brisk unbeaten 50 for the third wicket to see Meghalaya to 101/2 at close of play. Biswa was on 48 not out at stumps, with Punit Bisht having made 29 not out.