RANJI TROPHY | Bengal vs Kerala game peters out into a dull draw

Bengal’s Shuvam Dey is lured out of his crease by Kerala’s Aditya Sarvate to be stumped during their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match at the Jadavpur University ground, Salt Lake, in Kolkata on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The massive loss of play on the first two days due to the impact of Cyclone Dana ultimately affected the outcome of the Ranji Trophy Group-C match between Bengal and Kerala. The match ended in a dull draw at the Jadavpur University ground on Tuesday.

After Kerala, resuming from 267 for seven, declared at 356 for nine, Bengal logged 181 for three on the final day. Both teams secured one point apiece as the first innings could not be completed.

Kerala added 89 quick runs in 18 overs in the morning. Overnight batters Salman Nizar and Mohammed Azharuddeen, starting from 64 and 30 respectively, formed a 124-run partnership for the eighth wicket to show Kerala’s depth in batting and guide it to a position of strength.

Kerala’s Mohammed Azharuddeen smacked 11 boundaries and two sixes against Bengal during their Ranji Trophy match at the Jadavpur University ground in Kolkata, Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

Azharuddeen (84, 97b, 11x4s, 2x6s) shouldered the responsibility and plundered 54, including six fours and two sixes off Shahbaz Ahmed and Mohammed Kaif, off 49 deliveries before falling to Kaif.

Ishan Porel removed Nidheesh M.D. to pick up his sixth wicket.

When Kerala declared its innings, Nizar (95 n.o., 262b, 8x4s, 1×6) was five short of what would have been his maiden ton.

Chasing an improbable 357 in a little more than two sessions, Bengal openers, debutant Shuvam Dey (67, 113b, 7×4, 1×6) and Sudip Chatterjee (57, 102b, 9×4), batted sensibly to score half-centuries and put up 101 runs on an unresponsive track.

Jalaj Saxena trapped Chatterjee lbw in the middle session, while Aditya Sarvate claimed Dey and Avilin Ghosh in consecutive overs after tea.

Anustup Majumdar and Sudip Gharami displayed some patience and gamesmanship to last more than 22 overs as the match dragged on until bad light halted play.

One witnessed ridiculous scenes as the match officials, apparently following the rulebooks, waited even after the sunset before calling off play literally in darkness.

The scores: Kerala – 1st innings: Vathsal Govind c Saha b Ishan 5, Rohan Kunnummal lbw b Ishan 23, Baba Aparajith c Saha b Ishan 0, Aditya Sarvate c Gharami b Pramanik 5, Sachin Baby b Ishan 12, Akshay Chandran c Saha b Ishan 31, Jalaj Saxena b Jaiswal 84, Salman Nizar (not out) 95, Mohammed Azharuddeen c Gharami b Kaif 84, Nidheesh M.D. lbw b Ishan 0; Extras (b-4, lb-12, nb-1): 17, Total (for nine wkts. decl. in 120 overs): 356.

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-33, 3-38, 4-38, 5-78, 6-83, 7-223, 8-347, 9-354

Bengal bowling: Ishan 30-6-103-6, Kaif 16-3-63-1, Pramanik 31-9-61-1, Shahbaz 21-5-50-0, Jaiswal 21-4-62-1, Dey 1-0-1-0.

Bengal — 1st innings: Shuvam Dey st Azharuddeen b Sarvate 67, Sudip Chatterjee lbw b Jalaj 57, Sudip Gharami (not out) 31, Avilin Ghosh lbw b Sarvate 4, Anustup Majumdar (not out) 21; Extras (b-1): 1; Total (for three wkts. in 63 overs): 181.

Fall of wickets: 1-101, 2-128, 3-138.

Kerala bowling: Aparajith 7-2-23-0, Nidheesh 10-3-24-0, Sarvate 15-4-34-2, Thampi 10-2-32-0, Jalaj 17-3-56-1, Akshay 2-1-4-0, Sachin 2-0-7-0.