Shami’s spell sets up Bengal win, restores knockout hopes

Shami Ahmed was handpicked by Sourav Ganguly last season to replace an ageing Ranadeb Bose in the Bengal team. Ganguly was leading the side and was impressed with the fast-medium bowler from Uttar Pradesh, who was playing his club cricket for Mohun Bagan. Not that Ahmed was new to Bengal cricket. He had been plying his trade here for the last eight years and had made his debut for Bengal in the Ranji Trophy in 2010. He played just one match that season, against Assam, and was left out.

But Ganguly insisted that Ahmed should be a regular in the state team. The former India captain was right on the money in the talent-spotting stakes. Within a year Ahmed was in the India A squad that toured New Zealand.

So far he has been used as the second man in a three-pronged pace attack. But on Monday, as Bengal beat Hyderabad by six wickets, the 22-year-old came of age, as the front man in Ashok Dinda's absence. His 10-wicket match haul — four in the first innings and six in the second — not only helped the hosts save the drop to Group B but also kept them in hunt for a quarterfinal berth, with 13 points from seven matches. On a green Eden Gardens wicket, he was at his best as he took his tally for this Ranji season to 28 wickets in five matches. This was his second 10-wicket haul in first-class cricket.

"Ahmed is sharp, can move the ball both ways, and above all, has a terrific attitude. From the middle of 2013, he should be a regular in the Indian team," Bengal coach W V Raman told The Indian Express. Raman, however, cautioned that he isn't the finished product yet. National selector Vikram Rathour, who was present for this Ranji game, must have taken note.

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