Shillong, Oct 28: Sikkim batted through two entire sessions today to force a draw in their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Plate Group match against Meghalaya at the MCA Ground, Shillong.

Resuming their second innings at 96/2, the visitors batted steadily until the game was called off early at tea, with no outright result possible. Sikkim finished on 303/7, after having made 346 in their first innings. Meghalaya, who had replied with 405 all out, earned three points for their first-innings lead, while Sikkim settled for one.

Ashish Thapa was the star for Sikkim, anchoring the innings with a composed 117 off 189 balls. He resumed the day on 49, reached his fifty, and went on to notch his fourth first-class century before being dismissed by Ajay Duhan (1/85).

K Sai Satwik, unbeaten on 19 overnight, went on to score 52, falling to a return catch by Aryan Borah (1/44). Kranthi Kumar also contributed exactly 50 before being bowled by debutant Swastic Chettri (1/36), who celebrated his maiden senior team wicket.

Meghalaya’s pacer Akash Chaudhary continued his fine form, claiming 3/56, including the wicket of Sikkim’s first-innings centurion Gurinder Singh for 28. This came after his five-wicket haul (5/85) in the first innings.

For his extraordinary double century in Meghalaya’s innings, Arpit Bhatewara, the team’s wicketkeeper-batter, was named Player of the Match.

Meghalaya will now travel to Patna for their next fixture against Bihar, beginning November 1.