Bengal has taken a commanding lead in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C fixture against Tripura, ending the second day with a robust first innings total of 336 for nine. While an outright win by dismissing Manisankar Murasingh’s side twice in two days presents a significant challenge, Bengal is now firmly on track to secure at least three valuable points by achieving a crucial first-innings lead in this third-round clash at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Stadium.
Sunday’s play was significantly hampered, with an entire session lost due to persistent wet patches on the outfield following overnight showers. Once the game resumed, a poignant moment occurred as Shakir Habib Gandhi fell agonizingly short of his maiden First-Class century, dismissed just five runs shy of the milestone. The collective disappointment was felt even in the media tribune, with one scribe comically attributing the unfortunate dismissal to having moved from his seat just before Murasingh’s decisive delivery.
Though Anustup Majumdar’s stay at the crease was brief, Sudip Kumar Gharami showcased remarkable patience, ultimately celebrating his sixth First-Class hundred with a stylish sweep to the boundary. However, his long vigil was finally broken in the 87th over by Rana Datta, a wicket that visibly re-invigorated the Tripura bowlers.
Rana Datta, clearly pumped up by the previous wicket, returned in his very next over to send Sumanta Gupta’s stumps cartwheeling. Later in the final session, Bengal’s stand-in captain Abishek Porel seemed to have edged a ball to the wicketkeeper. However, his animated gestures of frustration as he departed suggested he felt no bat was involved in the dismissal.
Debutant Rahul Prasad contributed some crucial runs before Swapnil Singh cleanly bowled him. With stumps looming, it appeared Shahbaz Ahmed, who remained undefeated, might be left without a partner. Fortunately for Bengal, bad light intervened, bringing an early halt to play and allowing them a chance to regroup and plan for Monday’s action.
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 (batting) 40, Rahul Prasad b Swapnil 35, Mohammad Kaif b Bikramkumar 0, Mohammed Shami c & b Bikramkumar 5, Ishan Porel (batting) 0; Extras (b-20, lb-10, w-1): 31; Total (for nine wkts. in 115 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 27-7-56-2, Abhijit 22-3-64-1, Rana 23-5-76-3, Bikramjit 11-2-24-0, Swapnil 18-1-51-1, Vijay 6-2-9-0, Sridam 2-0-10-0, Bikram 6-0-16-2.