A Ranji Trophy match in progress at the Nagaland CricketAssociation Stadium, Sovima Dimapur. (Morung File Photo by Manen Aier)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 2
After becoming the first Naga cricketer to score a century in first-class cricket against Bihar, Nagaland Skipper Rongsen Jonathan repeated the feat in the team’s emphatic win over Arunachal Pradesh on January 1.
Nagaland defeated Arunachal Pradesh by an innings and 120 runs as their Plate Group Ranji Trophy encounter, scheduled from December 30, 2018 – January 2, 2012 at Nagaland Cricket Association Stadium, Sovima wrapped up a day ahead.
Jonathan scored 131 runs off just 107 balls, hitting 10 six’s and 6 four’s in the process and was declared the man of the match.
Opener Paras Sehrawat too scored a ton (112) while Sedezhalie Rupero (65) and Abrar Kazi (not out 50) helped Nagaland amass a massive total, before declaring their first innings at 377/9.
Earlier on December 30, Nagaland won the toss opted to bowl.
A tight bowling restricted Arunachal’s score to mere 135 in the first innings. Pawan Suyal performed exceptionally in the bowling department scalping 6 wickets and giving away 28 runs in 13 over at an economy rate of 2.15.
In reply Nagaland made 377 before eventually declaring their first innings right after lunch on Day -2.
At stumps, Arunachal Pradesh was struggling at 98/7 (43.0 Ovs) trailing by 144 runs.
When the match resumed on Day-3, Arunachal Pradesh’s 2nd Innings wrapped up at 122 runs thereby losing the match by an innings and 120 runs with a day to spare.
Abrar Kazi haul of 6 wickets, giving away just 22 runs in 19 over, at an economy rate of 1.16, proved to be the game-changer.
With the win against Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland now have 2 wins, 1 draw and four losses in their debut Ranji Trophy season.
At 15 points, the team currently occupies 7th position out of nine teams in the Plate Group, with Uttarakhand at top, closely followed by Bihar at 37 and 35 points respectively. Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram are reeling at the bottom.
For their last Ranji Trophy 2018-19 match, Nagaland will play Puducherry at Cricket Association Puducherry Siechem Ground, Puducherry from January 7-10.
