The 1959–60 Irani Cup was the inaugural edition of the Irani Cup, an annual first-class cricket fixture in India which matches the previous season's Ranji Trophy winners against a multi-state team called the Rest of India (ROI). The concept was devised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Ranji Trophy. The trophy was named after Zal R. Irani, the BCCI President.[1]

1959–60 Irani Cup
Rest of India Bombay
344 298
& &
210/5d 111/7
Match drawn; Bombay won the match by 1st innings lead
Date18–20 March 1960
VenueFeroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
UmpiresK. B. Saxena and Sudhendu Bhattacharya

Played from 18 to 20 March 1960, the first edition was between Rest of India and Bombay at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.[2] The match ended in a draw but Bombay were declared winners because a tie-break rule was in force that awarded the match to the team with first innings lead.[3][4]

Bombay captain Polly Umrigar won the toss and decided to bat first. The team batted through the whole of the first day and their last wicket fell just before close of play. They were all out for 344, Umrigar himself scoring 102. He was supported by fellow Test batsmen Madhav Apte (98) and Gulabrai Ramchand (82). ROI's best bowler was off spinner Jasu Patel, who took 5/98. ROI began their first innings next morning and were all out for 298, again just before close of play. Test batsmen Nari Contractor (108) and Motganhalli Jaisimha (105) shared a second wicket partnership of 196 but the rest of the batting struggled against the leg spin and googly bowler Hoshang Amroliwala, who took 6/44. On the final day, Bombay declared on 210/5, setting ROI a target of 247. They had made 111/7 when time ran out and Bombay won by virtue of their first innings lead.[3][4]

Squads edit

Bombay Rest of India

Match edit

18–20 March
Scorecard
v
344 (86.2 overs)
Polly Umrigar 102
Jasubhai Patel 5/98 (23 overs)
298 (79.1 overs)
Nari Contractor 108
Hoshang Amroliwala 6/44 (9.1 overs)
210/5d (54 overs)
Hoshang Amroliwala 76*
Rusi Surti 4/63 (17 overs)
111/7 (29 overs)
Prem Bhatia 50
Hoshang Amroliwala 2/33 (7 overs)
Match drawn
Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Umpires: K. B. Saxena and Sudhendu Bhattacharya
  • Bombay won the toss and elected to bat first.
  • Bombay won the match by virtue of 1st innings lead.

References edit

  1. ^ Irani Cup and full-fledged Indian teams. SportsKeeda. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  2. ^ Irani Cup Winners 1959/60–. Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b Rest of India v Bombay: Irani Cup 1959/60. CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 December 2023. (subscription required)
  4. ^ a b Rest of India v Bombay: Irani Cup 1959/60. ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 December 2023.