Kolkata, Oct 15 (PTI) — In a compelling start to the Ranji Trophy Elite Group C fixture, veteran pacer Mohammed Shami showcased his bowling prowess by capturing three wickets in four balls, helping Bengal dismiss Uttarakhand for 213 on the opening day at Eden Gardens.
However, Bengal's reply began on a precarious note as captain and India Test aspirant Abhimanyu Easwaran was dismissed on the first delivery. By the end of the day, Bengal stood at 8/1 in five overs, with Sudip Chatterjee (1*) and Sudip Kumar Gharami (7*) navigating a tense situation. Bengal trails Uttarakhand by 205 runs heading into the second day.
The seasoned Shami, who is experiencing a resurgence in form after injury woes, struggled initially, delivering 14 overs without gaining any wickets. Yet, in the fifth spell, he found his rhythm and engineered a remarkable reverse swing under the fading light. Shami dismantled the Uttarakhand tail, finishing with figures of 3/37 from 14.5 overs, exhibiting a brief but fierce display reminiscent of his best days.
Earlier, despite early struggles, newcomer Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal impressed with a lively spell, collecting 4/54 and breaking the opposition's top order. Ishan Porel supplemented the attack effectively, claiming crucial wickets, including top-scorer Bhupen Lalwani, who held the fort with a patient 71 off 128 balls. Uttarakhand collapsed from 179/6 to 213 all out, thanks to Shami’s late burst.
In the day's other notable matches, Haryana showcased resilience in a gripping contest at Surat, where 16 wickets fell on the first day. Haryana's initial innings of 171 was bolstered by Parth Vats' gritty 52. Railways, in response, found themselves in trouble at 93/6 with Haryana seamer Sumit Kumar leading the charge with 4/11.
Meanwhile, in Delhi, Services posted 246/6 against Tripura, with Shivam Kumar scoring a commanding 72. In Ahmedabad, Assam ended at 218/6 after 90 overs against Gujarat, with Pradyun Saikia contributing a robust 70.
Brief Scores:
In Kolkata: Uttarakhand 213 in 72.5 overs (Bhupen Lalwani 71, Abhay Negi 28*; Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal 4/54, Mohammed Shami 3/37, Ishan Porel 3/40) vs Bengal 8/1 in 5 overs (Sudip Chatterjee 1*, Sudip Kumar Gharami 7*).
In Surat: Haryana 171; 55.1 overs (Parth Vats 52, Z A Khan 3/42, Akash Pandey 3/27) vs. Railways 93/6; 32 overs (Pratham Singh 26*; Sumit Kumar 4/11).
In Delhi: Services 246/6; 85 overs (Shivam Kumar 72, Ravi Chauhan 50, Nakul Sharma 64*) vs Tripura.
In Ahmedabad: Assam 218/6; 90 overs (Pradyun Saikia 70, Riyan Parag 40) vs Gujarat.
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