Shillong, Jan 23: In an outstanding exhibition of bowling prowess, Bipin Kumar Ray showcased his skills by claiming six wickets on the third day of the Meghalaya U-23 men’s Col CK Nayudu Trophy clash against Mizoram in Nadiad, Gujarat, on Tuesday.
Enduring through 46.4 overs, including 14 maidens, Bipin delivered a stellar performance, securing figures of 6/74 as Mizoram succumbed in their second innings, managing a total of 232. This set Meghalaya a target of 194 to win, and as the day concluded, they stood at 30/2, leaving the match finely poised for the decisive final day on Wednesday.
To recapitulate, Meghalaya, having won the toss on Sunday, chose to field first. They efficiently dismissed the hosts, Mizoram, for 220 and responded with a score of 259, establishing a crucial first-innings lead of 39.
Aryan Borah displayed his spin prowess, claiming 4/34 in 16 overs for Meghalaya in Mizoram’s first innings. All four of his teammates who took up the ball also contributed wickets – Bipin (2/23 in 8), PM Santhosh (2/25 in 10), Manish Sharma (1/54 in 20), and Abhishek Kumar (1/64 in 13).
Meghalaya’s Kevin Christopher, after two consecutive centuries, emerged as the top scorer again, reaching 88 in 188 deliveries (14x4s) this time. Supported ably by Kush Agarwal (64 from 168, 8x4s), they forged a critical partnership of 156 for the fourth wicket, rescuing Meghalaya from a precarious position of 10/3.
In Mizoram’s second innings, K Vanrotlinga, who had scored 67 in the first innings, proved to be a significant obstacle for Meghalaya, hitting a century (101) before becoming one of Bipin’s six victims on the day. Manish (2/30 in 20 overs) claimed two wickets, while Abhishek (1/23 in 9) and Santhosh (1/31 in 9) chipped in with one each.
Despite having a sub-200 target to chase, the challenge of batting last on the fourth day looms large for Meghalaya. Having faced 13 overs in the evening, they lost two wickets, with Nishanta Chakraborty (7 from 36) and Bipin (0 from 17) holding out until stumps, aiming to make a significant impact on the target on Wednesday morning.
As the fourth day awaits, Meghalaya finds itself on the cusp of a challenging pursuit, requiring resilience and strategic play to secure victory. Bipin Kumar Ray’s exceptional six-wicket haul has positioned them favorably.
