WATCH: Bihar’s Suman Kumar creates history with 10-wicket haul and a hattrick in U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy

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Bihar’s left-arm spinner Suman Kumar etched his name in cricketing history with a sensational 10-wicket haul and a hat-trick in the same innings during a U-19 Cooch Behar Trophy match against Rajasthan in Patna.

A record-breaking performance by Suman Kumar: 10 wicket haul and a hattrick

Kumar became the first bowler in the tournament’s history to achieve this rare double and only the third to register a hat-trick in the competition. His remarkable spell of bowling dismantled Rajasthan, earning Bihar a crucial first-innings lead. Bowling with impeccable accuracy, Kumar’s figures of 33.5-20-53-10 came at a miserly economy rate of 1.57. The defining moment of his spell came in the 36th over when he dismissed Mohit Bhagnani, Anas and Sachin Sharma on consecutive deliveries to complete a hat-trick. His bowling not only brought him individual glory but also played a pivotal role in tilting the game in Bihar’s favor.

  • 1/59: Manay Katariya (Bowled): Suman opened his account with a masterfully flighted delivery that targeted the bat-pad gap. The ball drifted in, dipped sharply, and snuck past Katariya’s tentative defense to disturb the stumps. A perfect blend of drift and turn set the tone for the spell.
  • 2/82: Toshit (Bowled): A sharp, turning delivery clipped Toshit’s inside edge and cannoned onto the stumps. Suman’s subtle change in pace deceived the batter, who was undone by the lack of time to adjust. This wicket highlighted Suman’s ability to outthink the batter.
  • 3/82: Mohit Bhagtani (Bowled): Suman struck again through the bat-pad gap, his signature weapon. A delivery with deceptive drift drew Bhagtani into a forward defense, but the ball spun sharply and breached his guard to knock over the stumps.
  • 4/82: Anas (LBW): Anas fell victim to a flatter, quicker delivery that skidded straight on. Trapped plumb in front of the stumps, he had no answer to Suman’s clever variation. The umpire had no hesitation in raising the finger.
  • 5/82: Sachin Sharma (Bowled): Suman Kumar etched his name in history by completing a hat-trick. Sachin Sharma became his third consecutive victim, undone by a delivery that drifted in and spun sharply through the bat-pad gap to rattle the stumps. The hat-trick was a masterpiece of spin bowling, built on consistency, turn, and relentless pressure.
  • 6/87: Parth Yadav (Caught at Slip): Suman changed his line and extracted extra bounce, forcing Parth Yadav into an awkward poke. The ball took the edge and flew to first slip, where it was safely pouched. This dismissal demonstrated Suman’s adaptability in altering his tactics to outwit the batter.
  • 7/87: Akash Mundel (Caught at Silly Point): A tossed-up delivery lured Akash Mundel into a defensive push. The ball took the edge and popped up to the alert fielder at silly point, who completed a sharp reflex catch. Suman’s control over his flight and length continued to pay dividends.
  • 8/141: Aabhas Shrimali (Caught at Mid-On): Shrimali attempted to counter-attack but mistimed a lofted drive off a flighted delivery. The ball went high and straight to the fielder at mid-on. Suman’s clever use of flight tempted the batter into a false shot.
  • 9/166: Jatin (Caught by Wicketkeeper): A sharply turning delivery outside off-stump found the lower edge of Jatin’s bat. The wicketkeeper moved downward to take an exceptional low catch, adding another brilliant wicket to Suman’s tally.
  • 10/182: Gulab Singh (Bowled): Suman capped off his magical spell with a classic left-arm spinner’s arm ball. The quicker delivery darted in sharply, beating Gulab Singh’s defense to crash into the stumps. This dismissal sealed Suman’s place in cricketing history.

Here’s the video:

Also READ: Virender Sehwag’s son Aaryavir shines with a brilliant double century in the Cooch Behar Trophy

Bihar takes command despite draw in the Cooch Behar Trophy

The match at the Moin-ul-Haq Stadium ended in a draw, but Bihar secured three points by taking the first-innings lead. Batting first, Bihar posted a mammoth total of 467 runs in 143.4 overs, built on stellar centuries from Dipesh Gupta (183 not out off 381 balls, 28 fours) and Prithvi Raj. Rajasthan’s reply crumbled against Kumar’s relentless bowling, as they were bundled out for just 182 runs.  In their second innings, Rajasthan mounted a strong comeback, thanks to an unbeaten double century by opener Parth Yadav, who scored 200 runs off 441 deliveries. However, their spirited effort of 410/5 could not erase Bihar’s dominance in the match.

Suman Kumar’s phenomenal season so far

Kumar’s 10-wicket haul against Rajasthan underlined his exceptional consistency. With 23 wickets in just four matches, he has emerged as a standout performer in the Cooch Behar Trophy. His astonishing economy rate of 1.91 reflects his ability to maintain control while attacking the opposition batters. Kumar’s performance against Rajasthan was not a one-off but part of a broader pattern of excellence that has helped Bihar stay competitive in the tournament.

What lies ahead for Bihar and Rajasthan

Following this iconic performance, Bihar are now set to face Maharashtra in their next match from December 6 at the Ch. Sambhajinagar Ground in Aurangabad. Bihar are currently fourth in the Elite Group E standings with 10 points, while Maharashtra leads the table. Rajasthan, who earned only one point from the match, sits second and will aim to strengthen their position in the group by defeating Assam in their next game at K L Saini Stadium, Jaipur.

Also READ: Anshul Kamboj scripts history with 10 wickets in an innings in Ranji Trophy 2024-25

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