Haryana win maiden Cooch Behar Trophy

Haryana won the Cooch Behar Trophy getting the better of Madhya Pradesh by virtue of the first innings lead in the finals at Deccan Gymkhana grounds, Pune on Saturday. Haryana declared the second innings shortly after the tea interval on 321 for seven off 103.3 overs.

Haryana were comfortably placed at 167 for one at start of play on the fourth day. Opener Manvinder Bisla who scored 102 off 144 balls, was the first man to be dismissed in the morning. His fall ended a 141 run partnership off 189 balls for the second wicket with Sumit Sharma. Sharma scored 118 off 166 balls, with 17 boundaries, to become the second centurion of the innings. Deepak Joon played an aggressive innings 36 off 60 balls with one six and four hits to the fence. Mukesh Panjwani bagged three for 25 and Ambalal Patidar picked up two for 89 runs.

The day was marred by protests from both the teams suspecting players of being overaged. Six of the Haryana players and five of the MP players were sent for a medical check up due to the protest. The players under protest were unable to participate on the day and MP fielded with nine players throughout the day. The seventh Haryana wicket fell shortly after the tea interval, the umpires and captains decided to call off the match as there were no players in the Haryana camp left to bat.

Haryana and MP made their maiden appearances in the finals of the Cooch Behar trophy.