Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Bihar stuns Delhi with 17-run win via VJD Method in rain-hit match

Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024-25: Bihar stuns Delhi with 17-run win via VJD Method in rain-hit match

Bihar shocked favourites Delhi by 17 runs via VJD Method after rain forced a delayed start in the morning and then stoppage of play twice when the latter chased a modest target of 211 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy one-day cricket championship Group E match at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium here on Thursday.

First, rain forced a delayed start in the morning, reducing the match to 42 overs.

Delhi’s decision to put Bihar to bat clicked, with debutant pacer Akhil Chaudhary (four for 45)being the most successful bowler, despite being erratic and conceding 17 byes. The other pacer, Prince Yadav, bowled well in patches to pick a three-wicket haul.

But, what clearly changed the course of the game for Bihar was a crucial ninth-wicket stand of 59 runs between Raghuvendhra Pratap Singh (52 n.o., 48b, 6×4, 2×6) and Himanshu Singh (14, 27b), which ensured Bihar posted a total which could be defended in overcast conditions. This, prior to a cameo by Bipin Saurabh (37, 16b, 2×4, 4×6), lifted the spirit of Bihar on a gloomy day.

Delhi struggled to chase the modest target, which after the first rain interruption (Delhi scoring 23 for one in seven overs) was revised to 192 in 36 overs.

Bihar’s disciplined bowling effort ensured it stayed in the game as wickets fell regularly. Strangely, Delhi didn’t promote the in-form wicketkeeper-batter Anuj Yadav, who came into bat at No. 7, when the team was struggling having lost 98 for five and a rain threat looming large.

And, Anuj showed his class with a cover drive to the fence and a huge six over long-on off pacer Raghuvendra in one over before a heavy downpour forced the abandonment of play with Delhi at 109 for five in 24 overs.

For Bihar, pacer Raghuvendra and off-spinner Suraj Kashyap picked two wickets apiece at crucial junctures to break Delhi’s intentions.

Group E: At Uppal: Bihar 210/9 in 42 overs (Bipin Saurabh 37, Pratap 52 n.o., Akhil Chaudhary 4/45, Prince Yadav 3/47) bt Delhi 109/5 in 24 overs (Vaibhav Kandpal 31 n.o..) – by 17 runs via VJD Method.

At Gymkhana: Kerala 160 in 29.2 overs (Shoun Rogers 39, Sharafuddeen 42, Kumar Karthikeya 3/37, Sagar Solanki 5/14) vs MP 99/5 in 18 overs (Harsh Gawali 36) – No Result because of rain.

At NexGen Ground: Tripura 201/7 in 25 overs (Jiwanjot Singh 59, Mandeep Singh 94) vs Bengal 42/2 in 6.2 overs – No result because of rain.