Bengal claw back,set up humdinger

Bengal finished on 319 for 2 after Day III of the Ranji Trophy Super League match,staying in the hunt for the all-important first innings lead,even as Saurashtra are equally within reach of the three vital points in a match that is in equilibrium ahead of the last day.

While Day IV promises some gripping action as both teams will step on the gas and try to go for the lead,there’s a catch. If the first innings remains unfinished after the end of the match,then both teams won’t get a single point. The peculiar BCCI rule leaves Saurashtra and Bengal with equal incentive of going for a ‘result’ — which in this case is the decisive first innings lead.

Bengal now need 332 to take first innings lead off 90 overs with eight wickets in their kitty. Going by the way Tiwary and Das batted today,Roger Binny’s boys can jolly well fancy their chances against a bowling attack that looks least impressive.

Starting on from their overnight score of 27 for 1,Bengal survived the early overs,saw Deep Dasgupta (61) get cleaned up by Ravindra Jadeja,and began steadily clawing their way back in the match through Tiwary’s assertive strokeplay and Das’ crafty innings.

Tiwary had faced the flak for choosing to field first,and couldn’t have found a better stage for making amends. Hovering on the fringes of the national team’s scheme of things,Tiwary sent out a screaming message with a knock that left the Saurashtra bowling pulverized.

He put on 196 runs for the third wicket with the dependable Das,playing with ease and authority as Saurashtra skipper Jaydev Shah kept trying out one bowler after another on an unresponsive Eden wicket.

The partnership between the two Bengal batsmen made for an interesting sight for their contrasting styles of play. Tiwary was the more dominating one,unleashing powerful cover drives,executing delectable late cuts and often going down the track to loft the spinners out of the park. Das was a contrast to the flamboyant Tiwary,playing the grafter’s role to perfection. However,the day’s top-scorer Das,who was initially left out of the Bengal probables before the season began,didn’t leave the Saurashtra bowlers unpunished,picking and choosing his shots to keep the momentum going.

Interestingly,Das has been out there on the field right throughout the three days of the match so far. After fielding for two straight days when the Saurashtra batsmen took the Bengal bowling to task,Das opened the Bengal innings yesterday towards the end and batted through today.

BRIEF SCORES: Saurashtra 650/9 decl v Bengal 319/2 (Arindam Das 136 batting,Manoj Tiwary 102 batting,Deep Dasgupta 61; Ravindra Jadeja 1/50).

CAB seeks clarification over zero-point rule
The CAB has sought a clarification from the BCCI over the controversial zero-point rule,which could leave both Saurashtra and Bengal without any points in the event of the first innings remaning unfinished after four days of play.

As per Clause 21.3.4 of the Match Points Rule of the BCCI’s Playing Conditions rulebook,if less than 90 overs of a Ranji match are lost due to weather interference,and if the first innings remains unfinished,then neither team will get any point. Going by the state of the game at this stage,it’s a highly probable situation,although BCCI statistician Dinar Gupte told this daily that the zero-point rule has never been enforced in the history of Ranji Trophy.

Umpire recalls Salaskar memories
When players and officials were engrossed with the controversial zero-point rule,umpire Sameer Bandekar had something else on his mind — the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. The Mumbai-based umpire personally knew top cop Vijay Salaskar,who died in encounter on that fateful night. And he recalled fond memories of the encounter specialist. “I knew him personally. He was my boss’s friend. We’d exchange pleasantries whenever we met. Today,with the anniversary of the 26/11 attacks being observed,I can’t help but recall those memories. After all,as a fellow Mumbaikar,I really feel for him a lot,” Bandekar told this daily.

KKR trials in Kolkata
Kolkata Knight Riders’ coach Dav Whatmore will conduct a two-day trials on November 30 and December 1 in the city where Saurashtra’s Chirag Pathak and Balakrishna Jadeja will be seen in action. KKR captain for the upcoming season Sourav Ganguly is also expected to take part in the two-day trials. Rookie Agra lad Pawan Kumar,who made headlines a few months back by catching Ganguly’s attention and eventually getting to bowl at the KKR nets at Eden,is learnt to have been asked to show up at the trials.

CAB to spend Rs 1.7-cr on Kalyani academy
The CAB’s working committee today approved the proposals over the seat-sharing arrangements for the India-Sri Lanka ODI slated to be played at Eden Gardens on December 24.

The proposal to invest Rs 1.70 crore in setting up an academy at the Kalyani University ground has been cleared by the CAB’s working committee. Also,the state association has decided to reimburse Rs 10.67 lakh to injured cricketer Avik Chowdhury’s family for expenses incurred for treatment.

Incidentally,the CAB will have to make do with 44,703 seats during the upcoming one-dayer.

Venue manager expired
The venue manager for the ongoing Bengal-Saurashtra Ranji Trophy match,Alok Bakshi,died late last evening after suffering a massive heart attack. The 62-year-old is survived by two sons. He represented Friends Athletics Club at the CAB.