Shillong, November 26: Kishan Lyngdoh hit his first T20 century at the domestic level as Meghalaya defeated Sikkim by 9 runs in their Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025-26 plate group opener in Pune today.
Made to bat first after Sikkim won the toss, Meghalaya rode on Kishan’s 115 and Arpit Bhatewara’s 63 to post 190/7 in 20 overs. Sikkim, in response, got close but finished on 181/4.
Kishan had made two centuries in the Ranji Trophy in the preceding few weeks and made a successful switch to the shortest format of the game with a rampaging knock off just 67 deliveries, which included 12 fours and six sixes.
Arpit also had a fine Ranji campaign with two double centuries and he took up 41 balls for his 63, which included five fours and four maximums. He and Kishan put on 157 for the first wicket before Arpit fell in the 16th over.
Meghalaya would have looked for a 200-plus score but wickets fell too quickly and the innings ended with the team 10 runs short.
Just four wickets fell in the chase but they came at crucial junctures. In contrast to Meghalaya, no two Sikkim batters were able to create a big partnership together.
AB Rajera made 36 from 35 balls, K Sai Satwik a run-a-ball 23 but it was Kranthi Kumar who really threatened, with a blistering innings of 66 not out from 34 balls. Giving him particularly good support was Robin Limboo, who whacked 35 from 18 before being run out by Himan Phukan. Still, the highest partnership was just 54 between Rajera and Satwik.
Unlike Sikkim, Meghalaya are not using any guest professional players in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and there were therefore opportunities for other cricketers to wear the team colours. Three such players accounted for wickets with the ball – Himan (1/22), Swarajeet Das (1/25) and Ram Gurung (1/31).
Kishan was named Player of the Match and Meghalaya will next be in action against Manipur on Friday.
