Bengal absolutely blasted Delhi by nine wickets to kick off their Ranji Trophy Group C campaign on Wednesday, a statement win that had Delhi scrambling for answers on the final day. They didn’t just win; they shut it down, chasing a target of 89 with ease after bowling Delhi out in their second innings.
Delhi’s Fight, Bengal’s Finish: No Stopping That Momentum
Delhi started day four holding onto a thin lead at 101 for three, but Bengal’s bowlers kept the pressure on, dismissing them for 277 in 106.2 overs. Delhi’s captain, Ayush Badoni, tried to rally the squad, putting up a solid 85 runs off 134 balls, smashing 10 fours. Wicketkeeper Anuj Rawat added 39 off 76 deliveries, forming a partnership that temporarily steadied the ship after Delhi lost three early wickets for just 59. But it wasn’t enough. Rawat fell to Aamir Gani, Yash Dhull went for 22 thanks to Sumanta Gupta, and then Badoni himself was caught by Abhimanyu Easwaran off Pradipta Pramanik, leaving Delhi in deep trouble at 213 for six. Small contributions from Dev Lakra (13), Hrithik Shokeen (8), and Divij Mehra (21) helped nudge the score, but Bengal’s attack was relentless.
Pramanik was a beast, leading Bengal with three crucial wickets. Gani and Gupta each grabbed two, while Mohammed Shami, Akash Deep, and Mukesh Kumar each picked up one, showing that Bengal’s bowling attack is deep. Remember, Bengal already had a huge first-innings lead, scoring 429 against Delhi’s 240. When it was their turn to chase, they made it look like a practice session, needing only 15.3 overs to hit 89 for one. Ankur Paul fired off 38 runs off 41 balls, including two fours and a six, before he fell. But captain Easwaran (34 not out off 40) and Sudip Gharami (16 not out off 12), who already had a century in the first innings, finished the job without breaking a sweat. Talk about setting a tone.
Desai’s Masterclass and Gujarat’s Bonus Point Haul
Over in Ahmedabad, left-arm spinner Siddharth Desai was putting on a clinic for Gujarat, spinning them to a massive 10-wicket win over Odisha in another Group C match. This wasn’t just a win; Gujarat grabbed a bonus point too, which is huge for starting a campaign, especially under new-season coach Monty Desai. Odisha resumed the day at 119 for four, but Desai sliced through their lineup, bowling them out for 161 in 46.1 overs. He took five wickets for just 36 runs, and get this: it was his 16th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. That’s veteran status right there, absolutely electric to watch.
Odisha’s Sandeep Pattnaik top-scored with 65, and Ninad Rathva added 53, but Desai’s relentless spin caused seven wickets to tumble in their second innings. Left-arm pacer Arzan Nagwaswalla also brought the heat, finishing with six wickets in the match, including 3/33 in the second innings. Gujarat then had an easy chase of 47 runs, which they knocked off in a blistering 9.3 overs, not losing a single wicket. Domination, pure and simple.
These Group C teams are just getting started, but Bengal’s crushing win and Gujarat’s bonus-point performance scream serious early form. Who’s gonna keep that momentum rolling? This Ranji Trophy season is already looking like it’s gonna be a wild ride, and we’re here for every single ball.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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