Porvorim & Surat, November 11, 2025: The Ranji Trophy witnessed thrilling encounters today, with Madhya Pradesh securing a narrow victory against Goa and Bengal dominating Railways for a big win. Saransh Jain's resilient batting guided Madhya Pradesh to a tense victory, while Shahbaz Ahmed's exceptional bowling performance propelled Bengal to a dominant win.
Madhya Pradesh vs. Goa:
In Porvorim, Goa, Madhya Pradesh (MP) overcame a challenging chase to defeat Goa by three wickets in their Group B match. MP conceded a 97-run first-innings lead to Goa, setting the stage for a tense final day. Resuming at 21 for 1, MP faced an uphill battle to reach the target of 328. Wickets fell at regular intervals, increasing the pressure on the chasing team.
Saransh Jain emerged as the hero for Madhya Pradesh, displaying remarkable composure and skill. Coming in at 176 for 4, Jain anchored the innings with a solid, unbeaten 82. His crucial unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 65 with Arshad Khan (25) proved to be the turning point, steering MP towards victory. Jain's innings, which included nine fours, showcased his resilience and ability to perform under pressure. Earlier in the innings, captain Shubham Sharma contributed a valuable 72, while Harsh Gawli added 54.
Bengal vs. Railways:
Meanwhile, in Surat, Bengal displayed an all-round performance to secure a dominant innings and 120-run victory against Railways in their Group C encounter. Bengal's victory was fueled by Anustup Majumdar's outstanding century and Shahbaz Ahmed's exceptional bowling.
Electing to bat first, Bengal posted a formidable total of 474 in their first innings. Anustup Majumdar led the charge with a brilliant 135, demonstrating control and maturity at the crease. Shahbaz Ahmed contributed a valuable 86, while Sumanta Gupta added 120, bolstering the middle order after an early wobble. Contributions from Vishal Bhati (36) and Rahul Prasad (40*) further strengthened Bengal's batting performance.
In response, Railways struggled against Bengal's disciplined bowling attack and were bundled out for 222. Bhargav Merai top-scored with 91, but other batsmen failed to withstand the pressure. Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal and Rahul Prasad took crucial wickets, further restricting Railways' progress.
Following on, Railways were again unable to resist Bengal's bowling attack and were dismissed for 132 in their second innings. Shahbaz Ahmed was the star performer with the ball, claiming a match-winning haul of 8 wickets, including 7 in the second innings. His relentless accuracy and sharp turn proved too difficult for Railways to handle. Rahul Prasad and Mohammed Kaif also chipped in with important wickets. Shahbaz Ahmed finished with figures of 7 for 56 from 22.5 overs in the second innings.
With this victory, Bengal now sits atop the Group C points table with 20 points, marking their third win of the season. Anustup Majumdar was named Player of the Match for his impressive century in the first innings.
