Manoj Tiwary had “just started sipping on tea” when he found Bengal needed him out there in the very first over of the final day’s play.
Koushik Ghosh (69), one of the overnight batters, was cleaned up by Ankit Rajpoot as Bengal were 156 for 3 (overnight 156 for 2) after only three balls on Friday. Pacer Rajpoot could have picked up Tiwary as well had he held on to a caught-and-bowled chance.
Uttar Pradesh were certainly threatening to make things scary for Bengal. But Tiwary (60 not out) and the other overnight batsman, Anustup Majumdar (83), brought their experience into play, stitching a compact 97- run fourth-wicket partnership that earned Bengal a well-earned six-wicket victory in their Ranji Trophy opener at Eden Gardens and along with that, six crucial points. Bengal knocked off the remaining 101 runs in the day’s first session itself.
“Losing a wicket early on was the first thing we had wanted to avoid. I had just started sipping tea when I saw I had to go out there.”
A concern has been raised about the shape and seam of the SG ball used for this game. Both camps said the ball was hardly swinging after just seven-eight overs and becoming lighter.
Brief scores: Uttar Pradesh 198 & 227. Bengal 169 & 259/4 (A. Majumdar 83, M. Tiwary 60 n.o.). Bengal won by 6 wickets.
