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Regular-article-logo Friday, 26 April 2024

SOURAV PREFERS GREEN TOP 

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Staff Reporter Calcutta Published 10.03.99, 12:00 AM
Calcutta, March 10 :     Sourav Ganguly prefers a greentop against Punjab in Bengal?s final Ranji Trophy Super League tie which begins at the Eden Gardens Saturday. Bengal, who have 13 points from three matches, need at least five points from this match to make it to the knockout stage ahead of Punjab, who have 11 points. Hyderabad are already through, having tallied 16 points from three games. Sourav, who will lead Bengal, wants to take advantage of a three-pronged pace attack comprising Laxmi Ratan Shukla, Subroto Banerjee and himself. Moreover, providing a turning wicket, will mean playing to the visitors? strength. Harbhajan Singh along with left-arm spinners Kailash Chander and Navdeep Singh, whose seven-wicket haul in the second innings helped Punjab to an innings victory over Baroda, are capable of running through any side under favourable conditions. The pitch to the left of the centre strip had been marked for the match but Sourav today asked the groundsmen to keep another adjacent wicket, which has a little more tinge of green, ready. Utpal Chatterjee along with some of the selectors, however, feel that Harvinder Singh, if he is fit, and Reetinder Singh Sodhi could spell danger on a green-top. With five points needed to make the next round, a perfect batting strip could favour the home side. Sourav, who practised with the side at the Eden this afternoon, seemed satisfied with Bengal?s performance this season. ?We have a solid side and the guys are just brimming with confidence,? he said. Syed Saba Karim, who is in Jamshedpur, and Utpal, doing duty for his club in the local league, did not join the nets today. They are expected to join practice Friday. The Punjab team will arrive a day before the match.    
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