The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Bengal pulls off incredible victory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 14, 2006

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Bengal pulls off incredible victory

Special Correspondent

KOLKATA: Bengal pulled off a sensational five-wicket victory over Railways to waltz into the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy here at the Eden Gardens on Friday.

The victory gave Bengal four points for a total of 13 to move up as the Elite group `A' runner-up behind Mumbai (16 points). In the four-day semifinals beginning on January 20, Bengal would take on Elite group `B' topper Baroda at home.

The defeat ensured the defending champion's relegation to the Plate division. Railways ended with just four points.

Set a target of 303 in 57 overs for an incredible victory on the fourth day track, Bengal rode on Abhishek Jhunjhunwala's masterly 139 (135b, 135m, 20x4, 1x6) — his maiden century in the National championship — and his 217-run association for the second wicket with Subhamoy Das (83, 122b, 190m, 6x4, 1x6). Despite a mini collapse, Bengal managed to achieve the target with one ball to spare, thanks to up and coming Manoj Tiwari whose 25-ball 27 clinched the issue.

Earlier, Railways resuming on 140 for two, declared the innings closed at 321 for six in 75 overs. Amit Pagnis, overnight unbeaten 76, went on to get 103 (144b, 214m, 10x4).

With all top Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) officials savouring the victory, its president, J. Dalmiya, announced a cash award of Rs. 1.5 lakh for the entire team and Rs. 25,000 each for both Jhunjhunwala and Subhamoy Das. Bengal last made it to the semifinals in 2001.

The scores:

Railways — 1st innings: 259

Bengal — 1st innings: 278.

Railways — 2nd innings: A. Pagnis c Dasgupta b Paul 103, S. Bangar c & b Lahiri 15, J.P. Yadav lbw b Paul 16, S. Khanolkar c Dasgupta b Paul 47, R. Ali c Shukla b Lahiri 25, Y. Goud c Dasgupta b Paul 55, V. Saxena (not out) 24, M. Kartik (not out) 11. Extras (b-12, lb-8, w-3, nb-2): 25. Total (for six wickets declared in 75 overs): 321.

Fall of wickets: 1-45, 2-97, 3-190, 4-207, 5-241, 6-303.

Bengal bowling: Paul 26-1-103-4, Bose 13-2-62-0, S.S. Singh 10-1-42-0, Lahiri 23-1-85-2, Tiwari 2-0-4-0, Jhunjhunwala 1-0-5-0.

Bengal - 2nd innings: S. Lahiri lbw b Yadav 24, S. Das c sub (S. Sahu) b Kartik 83, A. Jhunjhunwala c Khanolkar b Kartik 139, M. Tiwari (not out) 27, D. Dasgupta (run out) 0, L.R. Shukla lbw b Parida 6, R. Gavaskar (not out) 0. Extras (b-10, lb-8, nb-9): 27. Total (for five in 52.5 overs): 306.

Fall of wickets: 1-35, 2-252, 3-279, 4-280, 5-293.

Railways bowling: Yadav 7-2-17-1, H. Singh 5-0-44-0, Kartik 20.5-2-100-2, Parida 16-1-90-1, Bangar 4-0-37-0.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport