Syed Mustaq Ali T20 Trophy 2020-21: Nagaland wins by 9 wickets

Our Correspondent 
Kohima, Jan. 13 (EMN): Nagaland registered their first win after defeating Arunachal Pradesh by 9 wickets at the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Tournament for 2020-21 season on Wednesday at Sri Rama Chandra Medical College in Chennai.

Nagaland struck 149/1 in 15.5 overs during their second match while chasing the target of 145 runs set by Arunachal Pradesh in 20 overs at the ongoing senior men's tournament (Plate Group) being conducted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Soon after opening batsman Jonathan Rongsen(C) was dismissed by Nazeeb Saiyed after hitting 20 runs from 11 balls, SS Mundhe and Chetan Bist put up an unbeaten partnership of 121 for Nagaland's side while chasing the target.

To their individual credit, Mundhe smashed 69 (not out) off 47 deliveries while Bist scoring a half century (not out) off 37 balls respectively to seal off the victory for Nagaland.

Nagaland's 16-year-old Khrievitso Kense took a wicket in his debut match.

Arunachal Pradesh chose to bat and set a target of 145/7 in 20 overs during the first innings. Doria hit 36 runs; Akhilesh Sahani- 31, Rahul Dalal -31 runs; Nazeeb Saiyed-24 during the opening innings for the team.

A Rahman, joint secretary of Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA), while speaking to Eastern Mirror said the boys had played "very well today". 

However, he expressed concern that the team has lost two valuable points in their first match against Chandigarh due to the inclement weather following which their match had to be abandoned on January 11. Both the teams had to be content with two points each.

"For the rest of the matches, we have to win and keep the run rate high," Rahman said so that the team may qualify for the quarter final round. 

Nagaland, with a total of six points so far, will take on Sikkim at 12 noon on January 15.