Vijay Merchant Trophy: Meghalaya take slender first innings lead over Mizoram
![A red cricket ball against lush field](https://meghalayamonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/cricball.jpg)
Shillong, Dec 17: Meghalaya claimed a 36-run first innings lead against Mizoram in their U-16 boys’ Vijay Merchant Trophy match in Cuttack on Sunday.
Resuming on 137/4 after dismissing Mizoram for 179 yesterday, Meghalaya finished their first innings on 215 all out. At stumps, they had reduced Mizoram to 160/6 in the second innings.
Dipayan Nandi added to his overnight score of 59, eventually falling for 78. Meghalaya found enough runs from the tail, though, to first get past the opposition’s total and then over the 200-run mark.
That they did was thanks to No. 9 Benedict Jones Makdoh (23) and No. 11 Manthan Gupta (21 not out). The pair put on exactly 50 for the last wicket to the frustration of the opposition.
Dinpuia scored 58 for Mizoram at the top of the order but four of his team mates were dismissed for 5 or less. However, first innings centurion Peka then came in and ended the day not out on 62. His wicket will be the prize one for Meghalaya tomorrow.
Apandanka Marak continued with his superb form and claimed 3/58 in 16.4 overs. Manthan (1/13 in 10), Paisal Ali (1/15 in 6) and Gaurav Jyoti Thakuria 1/56 in 19) also took a wicket each for Meghalaya.