With a comprehensive 190-run win over defending champions Madhya Pradesh, Punjab lifted the Vijay Merchant Trophy at the Ravenshaw University Ground in Cuttack.
Electing to bat, Punjab who had lost to MP in the previous season were propelled to 355 in the first innings by Prabhsimran Singh. The opener scored 154 while middle-order bat Abhishek Sharma made 69 to post a respectable score. Their bowlers then skittled MP out for 180 to garner a sizeable 175-run lead. Barring opener Mudit Bhargav (60) the rest of the line-up caved in to the Punjab attack. Resham Sharma, Rahul Kashyap and Price Balwant Rai picked three wickets each to put their side in a commanding position in clash for the title.
Punjab skipper Shubhman Singh then scored 111 in the second innings while I Thaman made 62* to help beef up the lead and set the opposition a formidable target. Bowled out for 309, the opener had helped set MP a 485-run target.
Abhishek then ended MP's opening stand for 97 and set the ball rolling. Claiming wickets at regular intervals Punjab bowled MP out for 264 on the fourth day. Abhishek claimed 5/78 while Kashyap and Rai took two wickets apiece and Akashdeep Dahri took one to bowl the team to victory.
Result: Punjab won by 190 runs
Brief scores: Punjab 1st inn 355 all out in 112.2 overs (P Singh 154, A Sharma 69, HS Namdev 4/81); MP 1st inn 180 all out in 81.2 overs (M Bhargav 60, R Kashyap 3/22, R Sharma 3/23, PB Rai 3/52); Punjab 2nd inn 309 all out in 88 overs (S Gill 111, I Thaman 62*, S Joshi 4/42); MP 2nd inn 294 all out in 59.2 overs (P Dixit 78, A Sharma 5/78, PB Rai 2/27, R Kashyap 2/51)
