Shillong, December 13: Meghalaya will go into the last and final day tomorrow in a strong, but not invincible position, against Manipur in their U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy match here. At stumps on day two Manipur were 77/2, leading by 29 runs.
Overcast conditions on the first day yesterday were replaced by sunny skies, and Meghalaya, resuming on 41/3, added another 126 runs before they were bowled out by Manipur just before tea.The hosts’ total of 167 put them 48 runs ahead of Manipur, who were dismissed yesterday for 119.
Kush Agarwal provided the backbone to Meghalaya’s innings with 41 runs, thereby becoming the first from the state to cross the 200-run mark this season. Sudhir Sahani also contributed a useful 20 runs down the order after coming in at No. 9. Jotin Pheiroijam (4-34) and Utkarsh (3-35) returned the best figures for Manipur.
Although the two sides struggled with the bat in their respective first innings (both scored at less than 2 runs an over), Manipur’s top order appeared to enjoy conditions more on the second day.
They lost Andyroshan (9) early to Sahani’s pace bowling, but his replacement at the crease Bablu (40 not out) and Raghav (23) put on 58 runs for the second wicket before the latter was bowled by Meghalaya skipper Rushikesh Jadhav, leaving the situation finely poised for the final day tomorrow.
