By Our Reporter
Shillong, Oct 19: In a gripping Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 match, the Meghalaya cricket team came tantalizingly close to securing a much-anticipated victory, only to be thwarted by regional rivals Mizoram. The thrilling encounter took place in Jaipur on Thursday, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, Meghalaya had a commendable performance in the field, restricting Mizoram to a total of 163/6 in their allotted 20 overs. However, Meghalaya’s chase fell short as they managed to accumulate only 143/7 by the end of the contest.
Mizoram’s formidable total owed much to their guest player Agni Chopra, who displayed remarkable batting prowess by amassing 94 runs from just 48 deliveries. Chopra’s magnificent innings finally came to an end when he was dismissed by Akash Kumar Choudhary, who claimed 1 wicket for 21 runs.
Meghalaya’s own guest player, Rajesh Bishnoi, made his presence felt with a commendable performance, securing 2 wickets for 32 runs, while Lerry G Sangma and Chengkam Sangma took 1 wicket each, giving away 22 and 27 runs, respectively.
Lerry G Sangma showcased his batting skills, contributing 36 runs at a run-a-ball pace, featuring two fours and two sixes. In addition, Junjun Sangma, making his domestic T20 debut, scored 21 runs from 20 balls, which included three boundaries. These two batsmen turned the tide for Meghalaya, adding 35 crucial runs in just 4.2 overs for the fifth wicket, achieving a run rate of 8.08.
However, the most electrifying moments of the match came towards the end, with Anish Charak delivering an entertaining performance.
Charak bludgeoned an unbeaten 36 runs from a mere 18 deliveries, featuring four fours and one maximum over cow corner. Despite their late-game fireworks, Meghalaya couldn’t bridge the gap, falling short by 20 runs.
Meghalaya’s next challenge is set against Chhattisgarh on Saturday, where they hope to regain their winning momentum.
In parallel sporting action, Meghalaya’s senior women’s team made their debut in the BCCI’s Senior Women’s T20 Trophy in Vadodara, facing Pondicherry.
Regrettably, Meghalaya succumbed to a 77-run defeat in the contest.
Pondicherry, having been asked to bat first, posted a challenging total of 150/4 in their allotted 20 overs. In response, Meghalaya struggled and managed only 73/9.
On another front, Meghalaya’s U-19 men’s team will be in action tomorrow as they compete against Maharashtra in their final one-day fixture of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy in Vijayawada.