Nagaland loses second match against Andhra
DIMAPUR, FEBRUARY 22 (MExN): Debutants to Twenty20 senior nationals, Nagaland lost to Andhra Pradesh (AP) in its second outing in the Twenty20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (2018-19) on February 22 at the Devineni Venkata Ramana Praneetha Ground, Mulapadu. Nagaland was bowled out in 13.1 overs for 65 chasing a target of 245, informed the Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA) in a press release.
Nagaland lost in its debut T20 match against Jammu & Kashmir on February 21.
AP elected to bat first posting a whopping 244 that included an unbeaten century from Ricky Bhui. Bhui was at 108 and had faced 42 balls when their innings drew to a close. He took the crease after captain GH Vihari was caught out playing a Tahmeed delivery in the 9th over.
His blistering innings included 10 sixes and 5 fours and a third wicket stand with Girinath Reddy produced a 60-ball 150 runs. Reddy fell in the penultimate over scoring a 31-ball 62.
Pacer Rachit took 2 wickets for Nagaland while the other 2 were claimed by Tahmeed and Pawan Suyal.
Nagaland’s run chase fell apart losing the first four wickets with the score stuck at 12. The collapse started after number 2 batsman Sedezhalie was run out in the 3rd over.
Three wickets fell in quick succession in the 4th over that saw KV Sasikanth claiming the wickets of opener Nitesh (8), Pawan KB (0) and Abrar Kazi (0). KB and Kazi were clean bowled in successive deliveries.
Coming in at number 3, captain Jonathan Rongsen tried to hold the innings together. Rongsen and Paras took the score to 32 before Paras (13) fell in the 7th over. The 6th wicket stand between Rongsen and Imliwati added 29 runs taking the score to 61 when Imliwati fell in the last ball of the 11th over.
Rongsen eventually fell in the 3rd ball of the 12th over trapped leg before by Karn Sharma with the score board reading 63 for 7. His replacement Inakato (0) followed soon after clean bowled by Sharma.
The score made it to 65 before Tahmeed (2) and Rachit (1) were clean bowled by SK Ismail and Sharma, respectively. Tail-ender Pawan Suyal was left stranded without facing a ball. The final score read 65 allout in 13.1 overs.
Sasikanth, Ismail and Sharma claimed three wickets apiece.
The poor showing notwithstanding, the NCA regarded the state’s entry into national cricket as the start of “a new era of cricket in the state.”
While stating that the match featuring Nagaland today was broadcast live on TV (Star Sports 2), the NCA expressed optimism that “more Naga girls and boys would take interest in the game of cricket.”
