Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26: Shabbir Khan's seven-for powers Bihar to Plate title

Bihar and Manipur locked horns in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Plate Final at the JSCA International Stadium, Ranchi on Tuesday, January 6. Bihar won the toss and elected to field first to utilise the fresh morning conditions. And utilise they did to the fullest.

Karnajit Yumnam and Ulenyai Khwairakpam opened the innings for the batting team as right-arm pacer Shabbir Khan steamed in. It just took the bowler four balls to send back Yumnam for 4(4) as Manipur were dealt an early blow.

LM Keishangbam joined Khwairakpam as the duo struck a couple of boundaries to ease out some nervousness. But, the threat was not negated completely as Shabbir had other ideas. The bowler came on to bowl the fifth over and dismissed Keishangbam off the second ball. The 28-year-old followed up with two more back-to-back wickets of Khangembam Santosh and Johnson Singh for golden ducks, thus giving him a hat-trick.

Shabbir was not done as he trapped Kangabam Priyojit LBW for a two-ball duck off the last ball of the same over, putting Manipur in deep trouble at 19/5 after five overs. A brief spell of respite ensued for the batting team but they were shaken once again by Shabbir who dismissed wicketkeeper-batter Ngariyan-bam Jameson Singh for a duck, leaving Manipur at 24/6 in the seventh over.

The team from the North East was looking completely down and out, but opener Khwairakpam was still at the crease and was joined by Pheiroijam Jotin. The pair rebuilt and brought some respectability to the innings. Though the Bihar bowlers continued to stick to tight lines and lengths they could not pick up a wicket for more than 28 overs.

The partnership between Jotin and Khwairakpam crossed the 100-run mark with the latter completing his second List A fifty. But not long afterwards, Khwairakpam was dismissed for a well-made 61(112) by left-arm spinner Himanshu Tiwari. Jotin (51 off 89) followed his long-time partner to the pavilion soon as Manipur found themselves at 141/8 in the 40th over.

The innings received a little bit of push from L Kishan Singha (10 off 33) and Kishan Thokchom (17* off 27) who took Manipur to 169 all out from 47.5 overs. Shabbir was the star for Bihar with figures of 8-1-30-7.

Openers Mangal Mahrour and Piyush Singh provided a good start to the chase before the latter was out for 21(30) in the ninth over. Wicketkeeper-batter Ayush Loharuka joined Mahrour and the duo continued with their run-scoring at a steady rate. Mahrour, however, could not score big as he was out bowled for 32(37) by Kishan Singha.

Bihar were 66/2 in the 15th over as captain Sakibul Gani came out to give company to Loharuka. The latter upped the ante as he looked to finish the match off quickly, reaching his second 50+ score in List A cricket. Gani (13 off 14) and Loharuka (75 off 72), however, could not see the team home as Akash Raj (20* off 31) and Bipin Saurabh (8* off 4) took their team over the line.

Bihar won the match by six wickets with 112 balls remaining, thus winning the Plate title. Shabbir was adjudged the Player of the Match.