Suraj bags 3 for Bengal as Mumbai reach 330/6 on Day 1 in Ranji Trophy


2nd February 2024
On a tough day for the Bengal bowling attack, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (3-95) was the only one who kept the Mumbai batsmen on a tight leash at the Eden Gardens on Friday.
At stumps on Day 1, Mumbai managed to reach 330/6 in 75 overs in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match.
Besides Suraj, Mohammad Kaif (1-49), Ankit Mishra (1-51) and Ishan Porel (1-74) were amongst the wickets.
For Mumbai, Shivam Dube (72), Suryansh Shedge (71) and Tanush Kotian (55 not out) impressed with the bat.
"We will give our best to come back stronger and bowl them out on the second day. Our bowlers tried their best, but it wasn't our day today. I hope our bowlers will dismiss them early tomorrow and put the pressure back on them," Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla said.
Earlier, put into bat after an hour delayed start due to wet outfield, Prithvi Shaw (35) and Bhupen Lalwani (18) got the visitors off to a good start.
Prithvi, who returned to action after a long injury layoff, struck five boundaries in his 42-ball knock.
After a half-century run partnership between the two, left-arm spinner Mishra brought the much-needed breakthrough dismissing Bhupen in the 16th over.
The home side struck for the second time when Suraj, displaying a magical spell of fast bowling, dismissed Prithvi to reduce Mumbai to 58/2.
Hardik Tampore (19) too departed followed by Prasad Pawar (9) in span of two overs to put the visitors in trouble at 87/4 in the 26th over.
From there on, against the run of play, skipper Dube and Shedge played positively to add 144 runs for the fifth wicket to bail the team out the trouble.
However, Kaif returned to get rid of Dube to bring a huge sigh of relief in the Bengal camp.
Another set batter Suryansh too fell in the next over to put the home side back into the game.
Depsite the quick wickets, incoming batters Kotian and Atharva Ankolekar (41 not out) played sensibly to add another vital unbeaten 99-run partnership for the seventh wicket to take team past the 300-run mark at the end of the day.
Mumbai veteran Ajinkya Rahane opted out of the match after pulling a hamstring. Dube came in to lead the side.

CAB MEDIA DESK
Arindam Basu