Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Nischal-Imliwati partnership keeps Nagaland fight alive on Day 3
A Karnataka-born cricketer representing Nagaland and a former school teacher from the state combined to brighten an overcast Monday — and in the process, schooled Tamil Nadu — with a sensational unbroken 200-run sixth-wicket stand that helped Nagaland avoid the follow-on on the penultimate day of the Group-A Ranji Trophy clash at the BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground in Bengaluru.
Opener Dega Nischal (161 batting, 350b, 24×4) and Imliwati Lemtur (115 batting, 203b, 17×4, 3×6) played with grit, determination, and control to lift their side from an early wobble and put Nagaland firmly back in the contest.
The southern side struck early in the fifth over of the day, as the other overnight batter, Yugandhar Singh, added only nine to his score before edging one to the keeper off left-arm spinner DT Chandrasekar. From there, Nischal and Imliwati took control, old-school style — leaving well, defending tightly, and playing the waiting game, gradually wearing down the bowlers.
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Nischal looked composed and comfortable throughout his 566-minute marathon, guiding the innings while pouncing on and punishing anything overpitched or short. He kept the scoreboard moving and brought up his 10th First-Class hundred — his sixth for Nagaland — in style, with a wristy whip off his pads that raced to the fence.
Imliwati, meanwhile, took his time before shifting gears. Once set, he found the fence with precision — threading gaps, leaning into drives, and taking on the spinners. He lofted Sai Kishore twice over long-on and Chandrasekar over mid-wicket, as TN desperately searched for answers.
Just before Tea, Imliwati clipped one off his pads and dashed across for a single to bring up a hard-earned century — his first in First-Class cricket, one that took the fizz out of Tamil Nadu’s bowling attack before bad light ended an eventful day’s play for Nagaland.
Published on Oct 27, 2025
