Raj Biswa’s 85 not enough as Meghalaya trails Sikkim in Ranji Trophy

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 3, 2024

Raj Biswa had another good outing with the bat but Meghalaya trailed Sikkim at the end of their first innings as the visitors were all out for 191 on the second day of their Ranji Trophy plate group match at Rangpo, Sikkim, today. 

Resuming play on 238/7, the hosts were all out for 284 after batting another 17.2 overs. Aryan Borah, who had taken a wicket yesterday, claimed the remaining three today and finished the innings with figures of 4/93. Neither Akash Kumar Choudhury (4/65) nor Swarajeet Das (2/52) added to their overnight tallies. 

Sikkim’s Ankur Malik was denied a century after he ran out of partners and ended on 91 not out. 

In Meghalaya’s innings, Raj, who had hit a century against Mizoram in the last game, got the team off to a roaring start with a cracking 85 from 86 deliveries. His innings comprised 11 fours and four big sixes. However, despite plenty of starts, none of the other Meghalaya batters could get to 20 and the team were all out for just 191 in 51.1 overs, giving the home team a significant first innings lead of 93. The wickets were all taken by Lee Yong Lepcha (5/63) and Ankur (4/65), with Lepcha also effecting a run out. 

Sikkim had to bat for 19 overs at the end of the day and were reduced to 55/4, giving them a cumulative lead of 148. Aryan continued where he left off in the first innings and bagged 3/25 in 6 overs, while the other wicket was claimed by Akash (1/9 in 4).