Chirag Gupta
Patna: Bihar secured its first victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy T20 by defeating Meghalaya by 8 runs in a thrilling encounter at Niranjan Shah Stadium Ground C in Rajkot. Bihar’s captain, Sakibul Gani, was the star of the match, playing an exceptional knock of 65 runs and earning the Player of the Match award for his efforts.
Bihar won the toss and opted to bat first, posting a competitive total of 169 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs. Sakibul Gani anchored the innings with his 65, supported by solid contributions from Vipin Saurabh (25 runs), Ayush Loharuka (23 runs), and Kumar Rajneesh (21 runs). Meghalaya’s bowlers tried to make inroads, with Himan and Swarjit Das each taking two wickets, while Akash Kumar claimed one.
In response, Meghalaya gave a strong fight but fell short, finishing with 161 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs. Arpit Subhash was the standout performer for Meghalaya, scoring a valiant 65 runs. Swarjit Das remained unbeaten on 23 runs, but Meghalaya’s chase ultimately fizzled out. Bihar’s bowlers were disciplined, with Sachin Kumar Singh, Himanshu Singh, and Amod Yadav each picking up two wickets, and Nawaz Khan taking one.
This victory is a significant morale booster for Bihar, marking their first win in the prestigious tournament. The team will look to build on this success as they gear up for their next match against Hyderabad, scheduled for November 29.
