Dimapur defend senior men’s inter-district cricket championship title

DIMAPUR— Defending champions Dimapur defeated Niuland by more than 100 runs in the final match played at the Nagaland Cricket Stadium on Monday to lift senior men’s inter-district cricket trophy.

Dimapur opted to bat first after winning the toss and put 215 runs on the board in 50 overs, helped by oppeners Shamphri Terang and Ben Ozukum, who gave a good start with 17 and 32 runs respectively, while Oren Ngullie (45) and Sanjay (44) played important innings in posing a competitive total after the in-form Bahadur Chetri was sent off for a nought. Tohuka Zhimo and Temjentoshi also contributed 18 and 12 runs respectively.

Niuland restricted Dimapur from posing a huge total with its wonder boy Vino G Zhimomi delivering once again by taking three important wickets in his 10 overs spell, conceding only 29 runs with one maiden over. Akavi A Yeptho and Jalal took two wickets apiece while Anil Gupta took one.

Needing 216 runs to win, Niuland started the chase on a bad note with Afzal Hussain being caught at wide long-on by Hem off Hoponkyu bowling for a nought, according to an update from Nagaland Cricket Association (NCA). Vishal Sahani (12 runs), Wahid Ali (15) and Sunil Sharma (14) gave Niuland some glimpse of hope but fall of wickets at regular intervals cost them dearly. The in-form Hokaito Zhimomi made a valiant effort at the end with 33 runs but the game was sealed with his dismissal.

Niuland managed to make only 89 runs on the board in 24.0 overs.

Tahmeed Rahman, who was later awarded Match for the finals for taking four wickets in eight overs with an economy rate of 2.88, shone for Dimapur in the bowling department, while Santosh and Hem Bahadur picked up two wickets each, and Hoponkyu Sangtam and Tohuka Zhimo one wicket apiece.

Dimapur defeated Niuland by 126 to win the Inter-District Senior Men’s Tournament 2023.

List of individual award winners

• Best bowler- Vino G Zhimomi (Niuland)
• Best batsman – Sedezhalie Rupreo (Chümoukedima)
• Best wicket keeper- Afzal Hussain (Niuland)
• Man of the series- Hokaito Zhimomi (Niuland)