Calcutta: There was play all right at the Eden on Friday. But Bengal and Rajasthan players were least involved in it. It was the rain playing hide-and-seek with the poor groundsmen all throughout the day. 

The second day of the Group A Ranji Trophy match was even poorer compared to Day I, in terms of cricket. While the opening day saw 43.2 overs of play, on Friday only 16 overs were possible.

Rajasthan, who were 102 for three at stumps on the first day, added 38 more runs to the total and lost two more wickets, reaching 140 for five when play was stopped for the final time on the day because of rain. 

The statistician counted it to be 65 minutes of play in total on Friday. It is like the proverbial drop to the ocean that Bengal sought. So much of time has been lost over two days, that it can almost safely be said now that barring a miracle, this match wouldn’t see a result. So chances of bagging six points or more from this home fixture has been washed out. 

The focus now, obviously, shifts to at least ensuring a first-innings lead. That would give three points. So if there’s enough play on Saturday, Bengal will have to quickly get rid of the remaining Rajasthan batsmen and then bat well enough to surpass the visitors’ score. 

“There’s nothing that we can do about the weather… We will now try to get at least three points by ensuring the first-innings lead. The pitch is gradually assisting turn… So we hope that our spinners will come into play in a big way,” Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary said before leaving the Eden on Friday evening. 

Speaking about spinners, Pragyan Ojha, Bengal’s import from Hyderabad, picked up one of the wickets to fall on Friday. He so far has three wickets. The other wicket to fall — Puneet Yadav (14) — was taken by Ashok Dinda. 

For Rajasthan, opener Vineet Saxena was still at the crease, batting on 44. Dishant Yagnik was yet to open his account. 
Play began an hour-and-a-half late on Friday morning, only after the umpires were satisfied that the outfield was dry enough. 

CAB president Sourav Ganguly had said on Thursday, after being elected unopposed, that he doesn’t have a “magic wand” to set things right. But it was magical indeed how amateurish ways of handling a crisis situation got a professional makeover overnight.

The super-soppers were repaired overnight, the ground was entirely covered during the rain, the procedure of removing the covers was spot on and above all, there was someone to preside over the entire process. Sujan Mukherjee overseeing the groundsmen’s work did so much of a difference. They did a good job on Friday.

The Sourav factor had once transformed the attitude of the Indian team. Something similar can be expected in the CAB’s functioning as well. 

But then, don’t expect him to set right the weather as well. He is next to God, but only on the off-side.