By A Correspondent
Patna: In a one-sided contest at the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, Madhya Pradesh defeated Bihar by an innings and 108 runs in their Ranji Trophy clash, earning full points. Except for Sakibul Gani, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and Sachin Kumar Singh, Bihar’s batting line-up struggled in the second innings, with wickets falling swiftly as they capitulated to the pressure. Madhya Pradesh captain Shubham Sharma, who scored a remarkable 240, was awarded Player of the Match.
Madhya Pradesh had set an imposing target after amassing 616 runs in their first innings. Bihar managed 347 runs in their first innings and, forced to follow on, were bowled out for 161 runs in their second innings.
Match Summary
On the fourth day, Bihar resumed their first innings at 331 for 8, with Shabbir Khan and captain Veer Pratap Singh at the crease. They managed only 15 more runs before Saransh Jain dismissed Shabbir for 5, caught behind by Himanshu Mantri. Veer Pratap was bowled by Saransh shortly after, bringing Bihar’s first innings to an end at 347 and forcing them into the follow-on.
In their first innings, Bihar’s notable contributions came from Bipin Saurabh (71), Ayush Loharuka (76), and Babul Kumar (47). For Madhya Pradesh, Saransh Jain impressed with 5 wickets for 108 runs, supported by Kumar Kartikeya Singh (2/90), Aryan Pandey (2/44), and Venkatesh Iyer (1/19).
Follow-On Innings
Bihar’s second innings began poorly, with Piyush Kumar Singh dismissed without scoring at 4 runs. Vaibhav Suryavanshi attempted a comeback with a spirited 41 off 43 balls, including six fours and one six, marking his highest score in Ranji Trophy. However, Madhya Pradesh’s bowlers maintained pressure, with Kumar Kartikeya Singh claiming his wicket.
As wickets tumbled, Sakibul Gani and Sachin Kumar Singh offered some resistance, combining for a 67-run partnership off 182 balls. However, hopes of salvaging the match were dashed when Kulwant Khejroliya broke the stand, dismissing Sachin for 23. Shabbir Khan and Sakibul added 23 runs before the innings ended with Bihar all out at 161. Sakibul remained unbeaten on 76, showcasing resilience with ten fours and three sixes.
Bowling Figures (Second Innings)
- Madhya Pradesh’s Kumar Kartikeya Singh: 4/40
- Kulwant Khejroliya: 3/33
- Aryan Pandey: 1/23
- Saransh Jain: 1/40
- Venkatesh Iyer: 1/12