CABThe Cricket Association of Bengal

Bengal pacers at it again


17th February 2022
Bengal pace attack led by Ishan Porel reiterated their dominance by sharing total 9 wickets between them and bundle Baroda for 181 runs within the first day of Ranji trophy opener today at Cuttack.
Bengal batted for 13 overs and ended the day on 24/1 losing skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran early.
Ishan registered a four-wicket haul while Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep took 3 and 2 wickets respectively after Baroda opening pair put up a decent 42-run partnership to put up resistance till 14.1 over.
An elated Ishan said: "It was a good day at office. Ranji trophy resumed after 2 years and it feels good to be back in the red ball cricket. The plan was to get as many wickets in the first two and a half hours; the wicket was helping the seamers. Afterwards the wicket became slow, low and flat. We didn't get wicket at first, they put up a 41-run opening stand, we created some chances though."
"We have bolwed well as an unit. Mukesh, Akash bowled well, when we got the breakthrough wickets came in a cluster. It is very important that we perform well as an unit and we always focus on that," he added.
Baroda skipper Kedar Devdhar being caught by Writtck Chatterjee off Ishan was Bengal's breakthrough and things got even better for them with the pacer striking just one ball later to dismiss P Kumar for a duck.
Ishan talked about the breakthrough: "For me first wicket of the match, the breakthrough was very important. Devdhar was earlier caught off Akash Deep but it was adjudged no-ball and later I have managed to send him back to hand my team the breakthrough."
Bengal's third was Ishan's third as well while experienced Krunal Pandya and Abhimanyu Singh became Akash's victim in the same over.
Mukesh wiped out the tail with 3 for 33 while Baroda keeper Mitesh Patel put up a lone fight in the middle with a fighting 66.
Bhargav Bhatt added crucial 30 not out to take Baroda to 181. Bengal batters Sudip Gharami (11) and Sudip Chatterjee (9) stayed unbeaten till the end of the day.


CAB MEDIA DESK
Rio Dutta