The calm presence Hanuma Vihari brings to the crease, a quality once highlighted by former India captain Virat Kohli, was perfectly demonstrated on Monday. As Tripura faced a daunting challenge, Manisankar Murasingh would have surely understood Kohli’s sentiment: ‘The dressing room feels calm when Hanuma Vihari is batting.’
In a crucial third-round Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C encounter against Bengal at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Stadium, Vihari showcased his exquisite batting prowess. His clinical 25th First Class century was nothing short of a rescue mission, lifting Tripura from a precarious position. This stellar performance saw the home team not only avert a follow-on but also finish the day tantalizingly close to Bengal’s formidable first-innings total.
Vihari, the former Andhra batter, walked in with the scoreboard reading a worrying 29 for two. Things worsened as Tripura soon found themselves reeling at 53 for five. It was at this critical juncture that Vihari took charge, anchoring the innings with remarkable composure. His batting was a masterclass in classic cricket – disciplined, precise, and devoid of any flashy risks. The only deviation from his stoic approach came in the 22nd over when he elegantly stepped out to send Shahbaz Ahmed’s flighted delivery soaring over the umpire, a rare moment of aggressive flair.
Crucial partnerships with debutant Sentu Sarkar, Vijay Shankar, and the resilient Manisankar Murasingh provided the much-needed support for Vihari’s monumental effort. Bengal’s Abishek Porel had a day to forget behind the stumps, inadvertently aiding Vihari’s valiant innings by dropping him twice. The second missed opportunity, occurring just after Vihari reached his fifty, was a straightforward catch that should have been taken.
In contrast, Mohammed Shami’s hopes for a Test recall might have taken a hit as he toiled wicketless through seven demanding spells of fiery pace bowling under a relentless sun. His brother, Mohammad Kaif, however, enjoyed a more successful outing, claiming four important wickets.
As Tripura stands just 63 runs shy of Bengal’s total, one can only wonder what might have been for Shahbaz if he had managed to bat for more than five deliveries in the third day’s opening session.
Match Summary:
Bengal — 1st Innings: Sudip Kumar Gharami c Sentu b Rana 108, Kazi Junaid Saifi c Sentu b Abhijit 0, Shakir Habib Gandhi c (sub) Rajat b Murasingh 95, Anustup Majumdar c Sentu b Murasingh 6, Abishek Porel c Sentu b Rana 11, Sumanta Gupta b Rana 5, Shahbaz Ahmed b Murasingh 40, Rahul Prasad b Swapnil 35, Mohammad Kaif b Bikram 0, Mohammed Shami c & b Bikram 5, Ishan Porel (not out) 0; Extras: (b-20, lb-10, w-1): 31; Total (in 115.5 overs): 336.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-213, 3-237, 4-249, 5-255, 6-262, 7-323, 8-326, 9-336.
Tripura bowling: Murasingh 27.5-7-56-3, Abhijit 22-3-64-1, Rana 23-5-76-3, Bikramjit 11-2-24-0, Swapnil 18-1-51-1, Vijay Shankar 6-2-9-0, Sridam 2-0-10-0, Bikram 6-0-16-2.
Tripura — 1st Innings: Bikram Kumar Das b Kaif 19, Hrituraj Ghosh Roy b Ishan 5, Sridam Paul b Kaif 6, Hanuma Vihari (batting) 121, Bikramjit Debnath lbw Kaif 0, Swapnil Singh st. Abishek b Shahbaz 4, Sentu Sarkar lbw b Rahul 20, Vijay Shankar c Abishek b Kaif 34, Manisankar Murasingh (batting) 42; Extras: (nb-3, b-9, lb-7, w-3): 22; Total (for seven wkts. in 78 overs): 273.
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-29, 3-35, 4-35, 5-53, 6-93, 7-200.
Bengal bowling: Shami 19-1-70-0, Ishan 17-5-45-1, Kaif 19-4-53-4, Shahbaz 15-0-53-1, Rahul 8-0-36-1.
