GANGTOK, : The Sikkim senior men’s cricket team
concluded their Gujarat tour with resounding victories in both away matches of
the Ranji Trophy.
In the first match, Sikkim outplayed
Mizoram at their adopted home ground in Nadiad. The trend continued in the
second match at Anand, where Sikkim humbled Arunachal Pradesh.
Sikkim shredded through the Arunachal
batting line-up after putting up a huge first innings total to claim victory by
an innings and 288 runs, securing the win inside three days.
After declaring the first innings at
an imposing 544-7, 40 minutes into the afternoon session on Day 2, Sikkim
bowled out Arunachal Pradesh for 98 in their first essay and enforced
follow-on.
Sikkim wasted little time in adding to
that first innings success to skittle the opponents for 158 in just over 41.5
overs today.
Only Doria (60) provided any
resistance in the Arunachal collapse as Palzor Tamang claimed his sixth
five-wicket haul in First Class cricket, Sumit Singh picked three and Lee Yong
Lepcha two.
Earlier, Ankur Malik followed up his
unbeaten century with 5-27 to dismantle the Arunachal batting line-up in the
first innings, joining the exclusive club of Sikkim players registering a
century and a five-wicket haul in the same match. His all-round brilliance earned him the man
of the match award notwithstanding the fantastic 86-run knock to add to the
fifer of Palzor.
Likewise, Saurav Kumar Prasad, playing
only his second First Class match, made a brilliant 119. Captain Nilesh
Lamichaney (103) and Pankaj Rawat (58) were the other major contributors.
Sikkim will next face the formidable
Hyderabad in their last away match before they return home for the last two group
stage fixtures.
