Left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed delivered the best match figures of his first-class career, leading Bengal to a decisive 188-run victory over Haryana in just three days, securing an unbeaten entry into the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals on Saturday.
On a challenging pitch that favoured bowlers, Shahbaz achieved remarkable figures of 6/38 after his 5/42 in the first innings, culminating in a match total of 11/80. Haryana, pursuing a target of 294, were bowled out for 105 in 26.1 overs in a crucial match.
The Mewat-born spinner dismantled the top order, taking the first six wickets to virtually seal the contest.
Bengal, already assured of a quarter-final spot after defeating Services in the previous round, topped the table with 36 points
and five outright wins, finishing their group campaign unbeaten.
For Haryana, the journey ended with Uttarakhand holding the advantage against Assam in Dehradun for the second knockout spot.
Earlier, Bengal resumed the day at 155/3 but experienced a collapse, losing their remaining seven wickets for just 45 runs in under 16 overs, ending at 200 in 56.5 overs.
Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran was the top scorer with a resilient 83 off 157 balls, extending his overnight 61 before being trapped by spinner Tanmay Baloda (2/51) as the eighth wicket at 197. The modest total still increased Bengal’s overall lead to 293, setting Haryana a tough 294-run target to secure their quarterfinal berth.
Haryana started positively with Yuvraj Singh and skipper Ankit Kumar adding 44 runs in eight overs, but their innings fell apart once Shahbaz entered the attack.
He struck on the first ball of the ninth over, dismissing Yuvraj (22), and then removed Ashish Siwach (0) on the next ball. On the fourth ball of the same over, he had Himanshu Rana (0), triggering a dramatic collapse.
Though Ankit and Dheeru Singh attempted to stabilise the innings with a brief 24-run partnership, Shahbaz broke through again as Haryana slipped to 69/6.
Pacers Mukesh Kumar (2/40) and Akash Deep (1/21) cleaned up the tail, while debutant left-arm spinner Vikas Singh claimed his maiden first-class wicket, dismissing Aman Kumar.
Uttarakhand Eyeing Quarterfinal Berth
In Dehradun, Assam was forced to follow on after being bowled out for 140 in response to Uttarakhand’s imposing 460/7 declared. Seamer Aditya Rawat (3/24) and spinners Mayank Mishra (3/36) and Jagadeesha Suchith (2/25) did most of the damage as Assam collapsed from 91/4 overnight to 140 all out in 69.1 overs, with Rituraj Biswas top-scoring with 62.
At stumps on day three, Assam were 224/6 in their second innings, still 96 runs away from making Uttarakhand bat again.
Uttarakhand, currently on 22 points, remain firmly in contention for a knockout berth after Bengal.
Brief Scores
At Rohtak: Bengal 193 and 200; 56.5 overs (Abhimanyu Easwaran 83, Sudip Gharami 61; Anshul Kamboj 4/51) beat Haryana 100 and 105; 26.1 overs (Ankit Kumar 25; Shahbaz Ahmed 6/38) by 188 runs.
At Dehradun: Uttarakhand 460/7 declared. Assam 140; 69.1 overs (Rituraj Biswas 62; Aditya Rawat 3/24, Mayank Mishra 3/36, J Suchith 2/25) and 224/6; 70 overs (Nihar Deka 52, Swarupam Purkayastha 51; Mayank Mishra 4/74).
At Agartala: Gujarat 352 and 53/2; 19 overs. Tripura 427; 119 overs (Vijay Shankar 151 batting, Hanuma Vihari 90, Sridam Paul 69; Vishal Jayswal 4/62, Chintan Gaja 3/82, Siddharth Desai 3/116).
At Delhi: Services 343 and 166/8 declared; 58.4 overs (Devender Lohchab 61, Arjun Sharma 45; Raj Choudhary 5/39). Railways 212; 51 overs (Zubair Ali 59, Ravi Singh 55; Arjun Sharma 6/79) and 69/1; 21 overs (Pratham Singh 48 batting).
