Players Details
Fixture & Results
Anustup hits unbeaten 159 as Bengal
amass 310/9 vs Himachal
20th December 2022
On a day when most batsmen failed to execute themselves, Anustup Majumdar showed his true class.
The senior pro delivered once again when his team needed him the most as his fighting unbeaten 159 put Bengal in a commanding position at 310/9 at stumps on Day 1 against Himachal Pradesh in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A clash at Eden on Tuesday.
Enroute his outstanding century, Anustup smashed 21 boundaries and two sixes. Shahbaz Ahmed (49) and Akash Deep (34) too chipped in with handy knocks.
Earlier, put into bat, openers Abhisek Das (11) and Koushik Ghosh (4) got Bengal off to a cautions start but Himachal pacer Sidharth Sharma got the better of the duo to put the home side in backfoot at 29/2.
Incoming batsman Sayan Shekhar Mandal (0) and Sudip Kumar Gharami (5) too failed to step up reducing Bengal to 35/4.
Despite wickets at the other end, Anustup stood firm bringing all his experience into play.
With team in trouble, skipper Manoj Tiwary walked in.
But his stay at the crease was also shortlived as K D Singh dismissed the captain to put Bengal in a spot of bother at 44/5.
From there on, Anustup and Shahbaz helped the home side stage a superb comeback adding a much-needed 110-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
But with the dismissal of Shahbaz followed by Abishek Porel (12), Akash Deep came in and played a fine counter-attacking innings to add crucial runs on the board.
Ishan Porel (6) along with Anustup stayed unbeaten at the end of day's play.
For Himachal, Sidharth impressed with the ball claiming five wickets.
"I am happy to deliver for my team. But the job isn't done yet. We need to add as much as possible tomorrow morning and that will be crucial. Shahbaz and Akash Deep played well and supported me superbly," Anustup said after the day's play.
CAB MEDIA DESK
Arindam Basu
