Ranji Trophy 2022-23 final: Saurashtra dictate Day 1 versus Bengal
Saurashtra are top of Bengal on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy 2022-23 final at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Bengal were off to a shocking start and folded for 174 in 54.1 overs. Shahbaz Ahmed scored 69. For Saurashtra, Jaydev Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya claimed three scalps each. In response, Saurashtra have lost two wickets, scoring 81 runs at stumps.
Horror start leaves Bengal under the cosh
Bengal were reduced to 17/4 in the fifth over and then saw themselves reeling at 65/6. Bengal's top three batters went back cheaply. Abhimanyu Easwaran (0), Sumana Gupta (1), and Sudip Gharami (0) were bamboozled by Sakariya and Unadkat. Unadkat also got skipper Manoj Tiwary for 7 before Anustup Majumdar (16) fell to Chirag Jani. Akash Ghatak (17) was dismissed by Sakariya.
A fighting stand bails Bengal out
With the score reading 65/6, Bengal were under the pump. And then came Shahbaz and Abhishek Porel. Shahbaz slammed a valiant 69 from 112 balls. His knock was laced with 11 fours. Porel got a fifty (50) before being dismissed. He hit eight fours. A solid 101-run stand helped Bengal find something to work upon. Bengal lost their way once the stand was broken.
Credit should go to Unadkat
Unadkat was released from the Indian Test squad to feature in the final and he made his presence felt. He chipped in with three wickets for 44 runs from 13.1 overs. He has now raced to 376 First-Class wickets. Playing his fourth Ranji match this season, Unadkat now has 20 scalps under his belt.
Sakariya, Chirag, and Jadeja impress
24-year-old left-arm pacer Sakariya has raced to 82 FC wickets. He has claimed 10 wickets in his last three Ranji innings. Meanwhile, Chirag claimed 2/33 to step in. Dharmendrasinh Jadeja (2/19) has 43 scalps in Ranji 2022-23. He is the fourth-highest wicket-taker.
Saurashtra end Day 1 on a high
Saurashtra were off to a flier (38 runs) before Jay Gohil (6) was sent back. Harvik Desai and Vishvaraj Jadeja added 35 runs, scoring at a brisk pace. Jadeja was dismissed for 25 by Mukesh Kumar. Desai remains unbeaten.
