Shillong, Dec 17: Abhishek Kumar took 5/45 against Railways while captain Kevin Christopher struck a half-century, though Meghalaya still fell short by 95 runs in their second BCCI U-23 Men’s State A Trophy in Nagpur on Tuesday.
Despite being a defeat, it was an encouraging performance that should motivate the entire team as they go further into this tournament.
Meghalaya won the toss and chose to field first but Railways got off to a very good start, losing just one wicket for the first 194 runs on the board.
That had given them a solid platform for an absolutely gigantic score but pace bowler Abhishek started to tear into the batting line-up, dismissing three of Railways’ top scorers and was even on a hat-trick at one stage.
Railways were still able to get to 301/9 in their allotted 50 overs but this was short of what they would have expected. Meghalaya’s other wicket takers were Gulgul Sangma (2/53) and PM Santhosh (2/65).
Meghalaya’s batters then demonstrated that they could hold their own against a good attack, though several players got out after good starts and they were always behind the required run rate as well.
Sachin Kumar hit 37 from 75 deliveries at the top of the order and he and Thunun Marak (24 from 38) put on 46 for the second wicket.
The latter’s dismissal brought Kevin to the crease and he proceeded to up the scoring rate with a fine 52 from 73 balls, which included six fours.
He later partnered with Josiah Momin (36 from 43, 5x4s, 1×6) to make 57 for the fifth wicket.
The required run rate, however, continued to increase and it was too late for Meghalaya as they were restricted to 206/9 in 50 overs.
Meghalaya had lost their opening match to Maharashtra on Sunday and will face Baroda in the third game on Thursday.
Despite falling short by 95 runs, Meghalaya’s spirited performance against Railways in their second BCCI U-23 Men’s State A Trophy match offers plenty of positives for the team to build on. Abhishek Kumar’s stellar bowling effort, which saw him claim 5/45 and dismantle Railways’ middle order, was the highlight of the day and a testament to the team’s ability to fight back under pressure.
Although Railways managed a formidable total of 301/9, it was far from the colossal score they seemed destined for, thanks to Abhishek’s brilliance and the support of Gulgul Sangma and PM Santhosh.
Meghalaya’s batting, while falling short, also showed resilience and flashes of promise, with captain Kevin Christopher leading from the front with a determined half-century.
Contributions from Sachin Kumar, Thunun Marak, and Josiah Momin showcased the team’s depth and willingness to take on a quality attack.
