Ranji Trophy 2018-19, Plate, Round 6, Day 1: Milind Kumar’s 139 powers Sikkim to 321/9 versus Mizoram

Milind Kumar s dream run in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19 season continues. After falling short by four runs for his century in the previous game against Puducherry, Kumar made amends and scored a scintillating 139 his sixth first-class century and third this season to power Sikkim to 321/9 against bottom-placed Mizoram on the opening day of their Plate group Round 6 match on Friday.

Put into bat at Jorhat, Sikkim s openers were back in the hut inside eight overs. Jahan Uddin and Ashish Thapa then steadied the innings putting on 75 runs for the third wicket. Fast bowler G Lalbiakvela then cleaned up Jahan, who scored 35 off 103 to bring Milind to the crease. Thapa failed to conjure any partnership with the in-form Milind and was dismissed four overs later by Lalbiakvela.

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Milind, who also scored a double century in the second game against Nagaland, finally found support from Lee Yong Lepcha as the duo stitched 94 runs for the fourth wicket.

The 27-year-old Milind was exceptional during his 136-ball 139 which was studded with 18 boundaries before he was castled by Akhil Rajput. Bipul Sharma notched a half-century, his 13^th first-class fifty before he made the long walk back to the pavilion after being dismissed by Sinan Khadir.

At stumps, Sikkim, placed fifth in the group, were left with tail-enders Bibek Diyali and Ishwar Chaudhary. Diyali was unbeaten on 10, while Chaudhary was yet to get off the mark after facing two deliveries.

For Mizoram, leggie Khadir was the pick of the bowlers with three for 74 in his 21 overs at 3.52.