KOLKATA: Bihar probably wasted their best chance to notch at least a win from the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy as they succumbed to minnows Mizoram by 57 runs in a Group C match in Ahmedabad on Sunday. This was Bihar’s third loss on the trot and fifth overall in the six group-league matches so far. The game against J&K was abandoned without a ball bowled.
Opting to bat first, the side from northeast reached 258 with Mohit Jangra remaining unbeaten on 91 coming at No. 7 while No. 3 Agni Chopra had contributed 48. Veer Pratap Singh, Raghuvendra Pratap Singh and Sachin Kumar took two wickets each but except left-arm spinner Sachin both the medium pacers went for runs.
Bihar’s chase was jolted by Jangra as the left-arm medium pacer took three wickets for two runs in the very first over. Babul Kumar and Bipin Saurabh briefly arrested the slide after that, but opener Babul departed holing out to Chopra off Jangra in the 12th over. Right-arm medium pacer Remruatdika Ralte then took five for 47 as Bihar could not recover from the early setbacks, as they were all out for 201 with more than 6 overs remaining.
Varun Aaron starred with a six for 33 and Anukul Roy took two wickets as Jharkhand kept their chances of progressing to the knockouts alive by beating Services by eight wickets in a Group B match in Jaipur.
Electing to field first, Jharkhand were helped by Aaron’s fiery spell as the former India pacer removed the Services top four with only 77 runs on board. Services captain Rajat Paliwal tried his best with a laboured 55 off 86 balls but that was not enough to put up a good score as he didn’t get much help from the other end. Services innings ended on 162 in 42.2 overs.
Chasing a modest total, openers Nazim Siddique and Kumar Deobrat gave a blazing start as Jharkhand raced to 66 when the former departed in the last ball of eighth over. Deobrat returned retired hurt after scoring his half-century, but captain Virat Singh and Anukul Roy made sure they reach home with eight wickets and 130 balls to spare.
BRIEF SCORES (Selected Matches)
Group B (in Jaipur): Services 162 in 42.2 overs (Rajat Paliwal 55, Mohit Ahlawat 24; Varun Aaron 6/33, Anukul Roy 2/31). Jharkhand 166/2 in 28.2 overs (Kumar Deobrat 50*, Nazim Siddiquie 44; Pulkit Narang 1/36, Varun Choudhary 1/36). Jharkhand won by 8 wkts.
Group C (in Ahmedabad): Mizoram 258/8 in 50 overs (Mohit Jangra 91*, Agni Chopra 48; VP Singh 2/70, Raghuvendra Pratap Singh 2/65, Sachin Kumar 2/30). Bihar 201 in 43.4 overs (Babul Kumar 72, RP Singh 60; Remruatdika Ralte 5/47, Jangra 4/25). Mizoram won by 57 runs.
