ANAND:
Meghalaya defeated Arunachal Pradesh by a massive 226 runs in their fourth Plate Group Ranji Trophy match at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Anand, Gujarat, on January 6.
With this win, Meghalaya has won its fourth match in succession, proving yet again the team’s resilience to take on any side with superb display of batting and bowling.
The match witnessed impressive batting from the team, with Punit Bisht hitting a double ton, Kishan Lyngdoh getting his maiden century, and Tarique Siddique adding another ton in the first innings that made the team put a mammoth 610 on board, and tilting the match in Meghalaya’s favour.
With a very good total on board for the opponents, the confident Meghalaya bowlers had not much to worry about, and reduced Arunachal Pradesh to a mere 331 in the first innings.
With a lead of 279 runs, Meghalaya batters knew that even a small score would be enough to keep Arunachala Pradesh side in tight situation, which led the team declare the second innings at 132/3, thereby putting a target of 412 runs.
With a big target on board, the Arunachalee batsman looked nervous from the very start against the in-form Meghalaya bowlers, who had already proved their mettle against Bihar, Sikkim, and Mizoram.
Confronting the Arunachalee batters, Abhishek and Arbin Singh were exemplary in the bowling department, with star bowler Akash Choudhary rested for the match.
While Abhishek picked up 3 vital wickets, to prove his resolve in the Meghalaya bowling department, Arbin Singh dazzled with a superb 5 wicket haul for Meghalaya.
Abhishek bowled Anup Ahlawat for 0 in the 2nd ball of the very 1st over, Rakesh Kumar was run out by Lakhan Singh in the 3rd over.
Abhishek went on to pick up Ngurang James in the 5th over again for a duck, and Ngurang for 13 in the 44th over.
Arbin Singh did the rest of the damage by picking up Doria (4), Teshi Tiku (4), Chandan Kumar Singh (4), Rahul Dalal (96), and Niia (8) in the overs that followed.
Meghalaya will play its fifth and final Plate Group Ranji Trophy match against Manipur from January 10 to 13, and after that play plate group Semis.