Bengal’s prospects of making the Ranji Trophy knockout stage have become increasingly tougher as just one point was all they could manage against Chhattisgarh at Eden Gardens.
Bowling the visitors out on the final day for less than their first-innings total of 381/8 declared would have secured Bengal at least three points. That certainly would have been a consolation for Manoj Tiwary and Co. after bad light had ruined their victory hopes.
On Monday though, insufficient light had held play up for just about an hour, forcing yet another delayed start. Still, Bengal’s bowlers had more than 80 overs at their disposal to get those remaining eight wickets of a team that was already under pressure after losing a couple of batsmen on the penultimate day.
Unfortunately for Bengal, the bowlers — barring Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal (4/29 off 23 overs) — were found wanting in terms of penetration and variation as Chhattisgarh lost only four wickets on the day to finish at 214/6, leaving with a point to take their tally to 11 points from three games.
Bengal, on the other hand, have only five points after Round 3.
On a pitch that had a decent bit of assistance for the quicks, Bengal spearhead Ishan Porel, their most experienced quick, wasn’t even half as effective as Jaiswal, who hit the right areas and extracted a bit of movement as well.
Mohammed Kaif, impressive in the previous game against Uttar Pradesh, was also pedestrian. But it was the lack of sharpness from Porel that seemed to hurt Bengal the most. Not just wicketless in his 18 overs, but he also kept bowling the wrong line.
Brief scores: Bengal 381/8 decl. Chhattisgarh 214/6 (Ashutosh Singh 88; SS Jaiswal 4/29). Match drawn.
Mumbai, Andhra win
Victories for Mumbai and Andhra over Kerala and Assam, respectively, have pushed Bengal down to fifth in group B.
Mumbai hammered Kerala by 232 runs to be at the top with 20 points, while Andhra are at No.3 with nine points after a 172-run win.
