Meg vs Mizo Ranji Trophy
By Our Reporter
Shillong, Feb 9: A stellar performance by Aryan Borah dominated the first day of the Ranji Trophy plate group semifinal clash between Meghalaya and Mizoram, held in Mangaldai, Assam, on Friday.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Mizoram faced a daunting challenge as they were bundled out for 144 runs.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya managed to reach 115/5 by the close of play, trailing by 29 runs.Aryan Borah, who had previously claimed 12 wickets in the match against Sikkim, continued his impressive form by securing 6 wickets for 58 runs.
The left-arm orthodox spinner proved to be a formidable force, dismissing both the openers and making significant breakthroughs in the middle and lower order.
Borah’s remarkable spell spanned 20.3 overs, contributing to nearly half of Mizoram’s innings.
Additionally, pace bowler Akash Kumar Choudhury made a notable impact by taking the crucial wicket of guest player Agni Chopra (scoring 53), finishing with figures of 3/36 in 14 overs.
Chengkam Sangma also contributed with 1 wicket for 27 runs in 7 overs.
The day witnessed a total of 15 wickets falling, indicating a challenging batting conditions. Meghalaya encountered their share of difficulties during their innings, with the score at 35/3 before Dippu Sangma and Kishan Lyngdoh stabilized the innings with a partnership of 60 runs for the fourth wicket. However, Dippu fell for 24 runs, followed by Kishan who departed after contributing 32 runs. Jaskirat Singh Sachdeva (10 not out) and Swarajeet Das (3 not out) managed to hold their ground until the end of the day’s play.Unlike Mizoram, Meghalaya are competing in the ongoing Ranji Trophy without any guest players this season. The local players have showcased commendable performance, securing the second position in the round-robin stage.
Despite suffering a defeat at the hands of Mizoram earlier, Meghalaya seeks redemption.
With a strong bowling display and determination from the middle and lower order, they aim to erase the 29-run deficit and establish a lead in the upcoming morning session.