SEMI-FINAL MATCH UPDATES
Rain played spoilt sport in the semi-final matches on both the grounds where the semi-final match played between Nagaland and Meghalaya had to be abandoned because of soggy ground conditions at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium. The match was able to resume at 01:15 pm and was reduced to 35 overs per side.
Nagaland vs Meghalaya
After winning the toss, Meghalaya sent Nagaland team in to bat first. Nagaland were reeling at 58 runs for the loss 3 wickets in 20.4 overs when the rains interrupted the match.
Hem Bahadur Chetri was on 22 runs along with Hokaito Zhimomi on 4 runs after having lost Yugandhar Singh for 5 runs, Jonathan Rongsen for 9 runs and Sedezhalie Rupreo for 11 runs.
The match could not restart as the soggy ground made it impossible for the match to be played. The on-field umpires and the match officials decided have decided to have a rematch on April 2 at Nagaland Cricket Stadium at 08:45 am.
Manipur vs Sikkim
In the other Semi-finals at Nagaland Cricket Stadium, Manipur won the toss and elected to field first.
Sikkim had an unfortunate start with their top batting order- Anwesh 8 runs, Arun Chettri 0 run, Nilesh Lamichanay 6 runs, Pranesh Chettri 0 run and Palzor Tamang 8 runs getting out cheaply without troubling the score board.
It was Ashish Thapa who steadied the innings and played an important knock of 41 runs. He was ably supported by Lee Yong Lepcha 22 runs, Ankur Malik 26 runs and Tarun Sharma 17 runs to help post a competitive 144 runs.
The match had to be stopped due to rain in the 23rd over with Sikkim batting at 75 runs losing 5 wickets with Ashish Thapa batting on 28 runs and Lee Yong Lepcha batting on 14 runs . When play resumed, both the players were able to stitch a 50-run partnership in 75 balls.
Rajkumar Rex Singh and Bisworjit Singh were brilliant with the bowling once again as they scalped 3 wickets each while Jotin Pheiroijam and Bikash Singh took a wicket each for Manipur.
In their run-chase, Manipur batters had an easy sail as their batsmen displayed great maturity to chase down the target of 145 in just 28.3 overs.
It was an overall teamwork batting display for Manipur as Karnajit Yumnam 18 runs, Md. Basir Rahman 22 runs, Longjam Ronald 16 runs, Langlonyamba 43 runs, Jotin Pheiroijam
15 runs, Pukhrambam 9 runs and Kishan Laishram 15 runs all contributed for an easy
win the match and book a spot the finals of the 1st NECDC Interstate Senior Men’s Friendship Tournament to be played on April 3.
