Monday, Jan 29, 2024 10:30 [IST]
Last Update: Monday, Jan 29, 2024 04:55 [IST]
GANGTOK, : Nagaland chased down 122 to claim a seven-wicket win over hosts Sikkim in the Plate Group tie of Ranji Trophy at Mining on Sunday.
A target of 122 wasn’t exactly a tall order and Joshua scored a half century before Sedezhalie completed the formalities in the company of R.S. Jaganathsinivas to finish the game inside three days.
Sikkim, looking to secure their spot in the semi-final, had added 55 runs to their overnight tally at the cost of their final three wickets, to be dismissed for 138 minutes before the end of the day’s first session.
Khrievitso Kense, bowling his leg spin to deadly effect, knocked the stuffing out of Sikkim’s batters in a menacing spell on Day 2 before claiming the wickets of the rest of the batters on Day 3.
The 19-year-old returned with figures of 8-46. He was named player of the match for his maiden five-wicket haul in First Class cricket which proved to be the cornerstone of Nagaland’s first win of the season.
Earlier, twin fifties from Jaganathsinivas and Sumit Singh propelled Nagaland to a first-innings lead of 17 runs. Jaganathsinivas (66) and Sumit (54) showcased resilience, rescuing their team from 25 for 5 to a total of 190 all out. Palzor Tamang starred with the ball for Sikkim, claiming 5 wickets for 24 runs.
Sikkim were bowled out for 173 in their first essay. All-rounder Palzor Tamang played a lone hand with a resolute 57 but wickets kept falling around him. Nagaland skipper R. Jonathan (5-52) led his side from the front to play a key role in restricting the home side to 173 in the first innings.
Sikkim, in the second innings, faced a tough challenge ending Day 2 at 83-7, with Kense’s brilliant bowling performance leaving them with a second-innings lead of 66 runs. Sikkim lost the remaining three wickets the following morning with Palzor again top-scoring for Sikkim with 28.
This was Sikkim’s first loss at the Sikkim Cricket Ground, at Mining in four First Class matches.
