Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Shahbaz shines as Bengal thrashes Haryana with 188-run win

Shahbaz Ahmed forced Haryana into another meek batting surrender, and secured Bengal a 188-run victory on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match at the Chaudhary Bansi Lal Stadium in Rohtak on Saturday.

Three wickets on either side of Lunch, that got Shahbaz a career-best 11/80 match haul, were enough to lead the home team astray in its pursuit of 294 runs.

But Haryana had the stomach for a fight when Ankit Kumar and Yuvraj Singh opened and wiped out 44 in just eight overs. Yuvraj spelled their intent by chipping Mukesh Kumar over long off in the first over. In the second, he drove Akash Deep through point and covers for two boundaries. Ankit made adjustments from his previous dismissal to Akash, moving across the stumps to negate late seam, and nudged a length ball through midwicket.

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Shahbaz threw a spanner in the works for Haryana with three wickets off four balls. Yuvraj attempted a sweep off Shahbaz but only managed a top-edge to fine leg, and Ashish Siwach was leg before on golden duck.

Himanshu Rana duly denied a hat-trick to Shahbaz but was deceived by flight on the very next ball, pressing forward and leaving time for Shakir Gandhi to stump him outside the crease.

The flurry of wickets did little to unsettle Dheeru Singh, who launched a slog sweep off Shahbaz that landed beyond the deep midwicket boundary wall.

This disdain carried Haryana till the Lunch break, but unravelled after resumption. Dheeru was caught in two minds against a wider delivery and withdrew a shot at the last second but only after handing a soft edge to the ‘keeper. Shahbaz prised out Ankit and Mayank Shandilya in the 16th over, all but closing the door on Haryana and its hopes of qualifying.

FILE PHOTO: Earlier in the day, Bengal’s intentions of batting for longer were foiled by Anshul Kamboj, whose three early wickets commenced a slump that saw Bengal lose seven wickets for 33 runs. 
| Photo Credit:
PTI

Aman Kumar and Mayank Baloda’s freewheeling hits put up a 30-run rearguard but merely delayed the inevitable. Mukesh Kumar made the most of low bounce to ensure he did not go wicketless in the match. Vikas Singh bowled just 13 deliveries in the contest but had something to show for as he claimed the final wicket and wrapped up Haryana on 105.

Earlier in the day, Bengal’s intentions of batting for longer were foiled by Anshul Kamboj, whose three early wickets commenced a slump that saw Bengal lose seven wickets for 33 runs.

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Shahbaz sought a counter punch against Kamboj, picking a length ball over square leg and following it up with a slash past point. But Kamboj had the last laugh as he sent Shahbaz fetching a wide delivery and drew an edge to slip.

Abhimanyu Easwaran refusing to change gears did not help the team’s cause. He misread Baloda’s delivery coming straight into him and fell 17 short of a century. However, with an impending batting collapse of the opposite ranks, it hardly mattered in the end.

Published on Jan 31, 2026