Dimapur, Dec. 28 (EMN): A quick-fire century from high-profile signing Stuart Binny, and an incisive performance from the bowlers, delivered Nagaland a stunning victory over Sikkim in a Ranji Trophy (Plate Group) game that ended on Saturday at the KIIT Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
First, some context: when bad lights ended play on day three (Friday), Nagaland were still trailing Sikkim’s first innings score of 274 by another 198 runs. Being a four-day game, the safe bet was on a draw.
Resuming the final day on 71 for the loss of three wickets, Nagaland found themselves reduced to 125/7 in no time. Cue a dazzling counterattacking partnership between Binny, who plundered 135 off 108 deliveries with 17 fours and four sixes, and Nagaho Chishi, who raced his way to 40 off 50 balls with nine boundaries.
Together they stitched a 112-run partnership for the eighth wicket. Binny was the last man to be dismissed with the score at 296—a marginal lead of 27 runs, which would prove significant later in the day.
Even at this stage in the match, a draw was still the most likely result. That is until Sikkim started losing wickets in heap.
Despite an opening partnership of 48 runs, Sikkim could manage to put up only 133 on the board before being bowled out. There were three ducks and three single-figure scores.
For Nagaland, left-arm finger spinner Imliwati Lemtur and right-arm medium pacer Nagaho Chishi took four wickets each.
Left with a target of 112 runs in the last hour of play, Nagaland sent in SS Mundhe, instead of their regular opener Aosashi Longchar, to pair with YV Takawale and they vindicated the gamble by smashing 66 runs in 7.4 overs to lead the charge towards a stunning victory.
Mundhe was dismissed for a 45 off just 23 balls (four boundaries and three sixes). Takawale, with 43 off 38 deliveries, and Jonathan Rongsen (17 off 13) saw Nagaland home without any further loss of wickets.
The target was achieved in just 12.2 overs—a run-rate of 9.16. And a memorable nine-wicket victory secured. Binny was the player-of-the-match.
Cooch Behar Trophy
The Nagaland under-19 team also thrashed their Sikkim counterparts by an innings and 57 runs in a Cooch Behar Trophy match at the Golaghat DSA Ground in Assam.
The four-day game lasted only for two days as Nagaland bowlers bundled Sikkim out for 155 in the first innings and 112 in the second. Batting first after winning the toss, Nagaland racked up 324 in on the first day, thanks to a century from Vedansh, who scored 124.
Nayudu Trophy
The story was different for the under-23 team who were struggling at the close of play on day two against Chandigarh in a Nayudu Trophy match being played at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium, Sovima in Dimapur.
After winning the toss, the hosts put in the visitors. Riding on a century (101) from Amrit Lal Lubana, Chandigarh managed a first-innings score of 296 all out.
In response, Nagaland were left hobbling at 30 for the loss of four wickets when stumps were drawn. They are still trailing by 266 runs.