Patna: Bengal showcased a dominant performance against Bihar in the Vijay Hazare Trophy match held at Jhumka Ground, Hyderabad. Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, Bengal restricted Bihar to 235 runs in 49 overs. They then chased down the target with 42.3 overs, sealing a comprehensive victory.
Bihar’s Innings: Piyush Kumar Stands Tall
Bihar’s batting lineup struggled against Bengal’s disciplined bowling. Piyush Kumar emerged as the standout performer, scoring a determined 89 runs off 112 balls. Bipin Saurabh added 34 runs, while Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Binny contributed 26 and 22 runs, respectively. However, the rest of the batting order failed to make an impact, leaving Bihar with a modest total of 235.
Bengal’s bowlers excelled, with Pradip Pramanik taking three wickets. Karan and Mukesh claimed two wickets each, while Shami, Shyan Ghosh, and Kaushik picked up one wicket apiece, keeping Bihar’s scoring in check.
Bengal’s Chase: Sudip Kumar Leads with a Century
Bengal’s chase was anchored by captain Sudip Kumar, who played a masterful innings, scoring an unbeaten 107 runs. His leadership and composure at the crease ensured a smooth pursuit of the target. The batting unit also saw significant contributions, including a century and half-century partnership that sealed the victory.
Bihar’s bowlers, including Suraj and Himanshu, who took two wickets each, tried to apply pressure but could not derail Bengal’s solid batting performance. Despite frequent tactical changes, Bihar struggled to contain Bengal’s momentum.
Match Highlights and Future Fixtures
Piyush Kumar’s valiant effort for Bihar and Sudip Kumar’s match-winning century for Bengal were the standout performances of the game. Bengal’s all-round display with bat and ball underlined their dominance.
Looking ahead, Bihar will face Kerala on 5 January 2025 at the same venue. Bengal’s emphatic win sets the stage for them as strong contenders in the tournament.
