Bengal begins Ranji season with six-wicket win towards Uttar Pradesh

Anustup Majumdar and captain Manoj Tiwary scored effective half-centuries as Bengal notched up a come-from-behind six-wicket win over Uttar Pradesh in its opening Group-A match of the Ranji Trophy on the Eden Gardens right here on Friday.

Chasing a goal of 257, Bengal, which conceded a 29-run first innings lead, wanted 101 runs on the ultimate day. Resuming from 156 for 2, the host achieved the specified combination inside the primary session.

The in a single day unbeaten pair of Anustup and Koushik Ghosh parted methods when the latter was bowled by Ankit Rajpoot within the first over of the day.

Rajpoot and his seam bowling accomplice Shivam Mavi labored exhausting with the older ball and requested frequent inquiries to the Bengal batters within the beneficial first hour.

Anustup (83, 170b, 10×4), regardless of his taped left-hand webbing, confirmed utility to disclaim the Uttar Pradesh bowlers any benefit. He discovered the gaps to achieve his twentieth half-century and accumulate 4000 first-class runs.

The seasoned Tiwary (60 n.o., 108b, 7×4, 1×6), who obtained a life early when Rajpoot couldn’t capitalize on a caught-and-bowled probability, was unperturbed and registered his fortieth half-century. He let the situations develop into conducive for batting earlier than unleashing cuts and drives on the off-side and a six off Karan Sharma over mid-wicket.

Tiwary and Anustup stood for a significant partnership of 95 runs and took Bengal to the brink of victory.

Rinku Singh claimed Anustup’s wicket but it surely was too late for Uttar Pradesh, which paid the penalty for spilling a number of catches.

“It was not an easy pitch to bat on. We had to apply ourselves. Anustup batted superbly. Ishan gave his all with the ball. This will surely give a lot of confidence,” mentioned Tiwary, including that if the season went nicely and Bengal obtained the trophy he would possibly name it a day.