Sport
-
Cricket
Bengal poised to enter semifinals
By Our Special Correspondent
KOLKATA, FEB. 8. Bengal took charge of the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal tie against Gujarat on the penultimate day of the five-day game at the Eden Gardens here on Friday. The host ended day four at 279 for three to inflate the lead to 311 thus almost shutting the door on the face of Gujarat.
Resuming form its overnight two for no loss, Bengal lost opener Amitava Chakraborty cheaply for 10 before Deep Dasgupta and Devang Gandhi put on 149 runs for the second wicket to take the game away from Gujarat. When the visitor was looking for another breakthrough, Dasgupta (30) was dropped in the slips in trying to sweep and a little later Gandhi (27) was dropped at long on. Two quick wickets at this stage could have helped Gujarat exert pressure on the Bengal batting, without the services of Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, down with fever.
Even Subhomoy Das was dropped at forward short-leg when on single digit, though, by then the game had slowly but firmly slipped out of Gujarat. Dasgupta's 84 (251m, 185b,13x4), coming at the right time, enabled Bengal not only to kill valuable time but also stopped Gujarat from making an early inroad. Dasgupta fell leg before to part-time left-arm spinner Mukund Parmar. Gandhi's 82 (246m, 163b, 8x4) was less convincing as he was beaten many times. He was taken at point by substitute fielder Salil Yadav when Gandhi tried to hoist off-spinner Bhavin Mehta on the leg side.
The best batting display came from Rohan Gavaskar. The stylish left-hander produced some masterly drives on the front- foot to rattle up an unbeaten 74 (106m, 81b, 12x4, 2x6). Giving him company was Das (21 batting).
lThe scores: Bengal - 1st innings: 353.
Gujarat - 1st innings: 321.
Bengal - 2nd innings: Amitava Chakraborty c Vora b Bhatt 10; Deep Dasgupta lbw b Parmar 84; Devang Gandhi c sub (Salil Yadav) b Mehta 82; Rohan Gavaskar (batting) 74; Subhomoy Das (batting) 21. Extras (b-4, lb-2, nb- 2): 8. Total (for 3 in 84 overs): 279.
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-165, 3-208.
Gujarat bowling: L. Patel 17-3-35-0, B. Mehta 24-5-74-1, S. Bhatt 14-4-36-1, K. Patel 16-3-62-0, K. Damani 9-2-40-0, M. Parmar 4-1-26-1.
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Sport
|
