Insufficient light and rain forced Bengal and Delhi to settle for a point in the Ranji Trophy group A clash at Eden Gardens. After just 9.3 overs on Day III, only seven overs — that too, in two phases — were possible on the final day with Delhi at 242/7, adding 25 more to their overnight total.
Bengal had to get most of those seven overs bowled with spinners because light was already an issue, and Jonty Sidhu (53 not out) and Suboth Bhati (26 not out) negotiated them with ease.
Once play resumed after the interruption, just one over could be bowled. Jonty and Bhati had little difficulty in dealing with Mukesh Kumar. But light faded further and the game was interrupted once again. Thereafter, a downpour that lasted 10-15 minutes virtually put paid to all possibilities of resumption. Despite the skies getting clearer during late afternoon, the condition of the outfield couldn’t quite convince the umpires for a restart.
Bengal had a fair chance of securing at least three points from this game, but that they remain among the top five (fifth with 20 points) in the Elite Cross Pool does console them a bit. Delhi, on the other hand, are ninth with 17 points.
Selection issues
Left-arm spinner Rajkumar Pal has been selected in the 16-man squad for Bengal’s remaining two matches versus Rajasthan and Punjab along with left-arm quick Geet Puri.
“Pal has been performing well for Mohun Bagan for the last few years. Besides, we came to know that the wicket in Patiala (for the Punjab match) will most likely be a turner, which is suitable for his kind of left-arm spin bowling,” coach Arun Lal said.
