New Delhi: Bengal won the under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy after 19 years, getting the better of Delhi on the basis of the first innings lead, at the Kotla on Sunday.

There was celebration in the Bengal camp after play was called off at the start of the mandatory overs, with Delhi reeling at 60 for four in the second innings. 

Bengal, overnight 272 for six, completed their first innings at 393 thus taking the decisive 79-run lead over the hosts. 
The battle was actually won in the first hour of the concluding day when Bengal managed to take the lead without conceding any further wicket. Saurabh Singh and Kanishk Seth, who guided Bengal’s recovery on Saturday, once again did a superb job. The duo put on 182 runs for the seventh wicket.

Saurabh (196) and Kanishk (91) got the bulk of Bengal’s runs. 

While Kanishk missed the century, which he richly deserved for his contribution as the No.8 batsman, Saurabh was dismissed four runs away from his double century.

When most other batsmen faltered, Saurabh, who originally comes from Lucknow, spent more than six session at the wicket and faced 527 balls. He hit 20 boundaries and the Delhi bowlers had a tough time trying to find his weaknesses.

Saurabh was the eighth wicket to fall, but by that time Bengal had already pocketed the final. 

“Going by the situation of the match, Saurabh’s innings was impressive,” said one of the junior selectors present at the ground, but did not wish to be named.

“It is never easy to fight back with a lower-order batsman as company since you are in constant fear of losing the partner any moment. But these two displayed lots of guts,” he added.

Kanishk, who sent down 25 overs as Bengal’s opening bowler, stayed at the wicket to face 212 deliveries and hit 15 fours. 
On the whole, it was a solid performance from the Bengal colts though they had luck on their side. 

Chasing Delhi’s score of 314, the visitors were in trouble at one point but cashed on Delhi’s poor fielding. Had the home side held on to the catches and not missed a stumping chance, things could have been different.

But then, as Bengal coach Pranab Nandy pointed out, the trophy was not won on a single day’s effort. “To win it, you have had to play well the entire season stretching over three months.

“These boys have shown that they have the potential. They played well for eight matches continuously and then reached the final. We were at a disadvantage as the final was an away match. But all my boys kept their cool and were able to pull off a successful chase in the first innings,” said the coach.

Brief scores: Delhi 314 & 60/4 (Akash Pandey 3/26). Bengal 393 (Saurabh Singh 196, Kanishk Seth 91). Bengal won by virtue of their first-innings lead.