Mangalapuram (Keralam), Oct 29 (PTI) Spinner Pradipta Pramanik grabbed his maiden 10-wicket match haul in first-class cricket to complement Shahbaz Ahmed’s all-round show as Bengal thrashed Kerala by 287 runs on the fourth and final day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match here on Thursday.
Resuming at 53/4 while chasing a daunting target of 408, Kerala were bowled out for 120 in 38.4 overs to hand Bengal their third consecutive victory of the season.
Bengal consolidated their position at the top of the group table with 18 points.
Pramanik, playing his 19th first-class match, finished with figures of 6/51 in the second innings after claiming 4/44 in the first, returning a match haul of 10/95 at the KCA Cricket Ground in Mangalapuram.
The left-arm spinner struck early on Thursday, dismissing overnight batter and Kerala captain Vishnu Vinod, who was out for 19, without adding to his overnight score. Pramanik then removed Salman Nizar for one to leave Kerala struggling.
Veteran pacer Mohammed Shami tightened Bengal’s grip by dismissing Aditya Sarwate and Vaisakh Chandran as Kerala slumped to 70/8.
Mohammed Azharuddeen attempted to resist with 26 off 44 balls, including three boundaries, while MD Nidheesh counterattacked with 33 off 28 deliveries, hitting five fours and a six.
However, Shahbaz ended Azharuddeen’s resistance before dismissing Nidheesh in his next over to wrap up the innings.
Shahbaz was named Player of the Match for his outstanding all-round contribution. He had scored 121 in Bengal’s first innings and claimed 2/22, before adding 20 runs and taking 2/19 in the second innings.
Riding on Shahbaz’s innings, Bengal had posted 350 and added 198 in the second to set Kerala a target of 408.
Kerala managed 141 in their first innings, with Vinod scoring 41, before their second-innings collapse sealed a comprehensive victory for Bengal.
Shami finished with five wickets in the match.
Badoni’s double ton in rain-hit draw
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No play was possible for the second successive day due to rain caused by Cyclone Arnab over the Bay of Bengal, forcing Delhi and Jharkhand to settle for a draw in Ranchi.
Delhi took three points on the basis of their first-innings lead after the match ended without further play on the third and fourth days. Jharkhand earned one point.
Delhi captain Ayush Badoni’s second successive double century was the standout performance of the contest.
Badoni remained unbeaten on 210 off 228 balls, striking 19 fours and three sixes, as Delhi declared their first innings at 515/5 in 130 overs.
Badoni, who had also scored a double hundred in the previous match, continued his prolific run with the bat and was named Player of the Match. He also claimed one wicket for 16 runs in Jharkhand’s first innings.
In reply, Jharkhand reached 131/4 in 47 overs before rain washed out the remaining two days.
Utkarsh Singh remained unbeaten on 53 off 129 balls, while Sharandeep Singh contributed 31.
Captain Virat Singh scored 21 before falling to Aman Chaudhary, who finished with 1/34.
Cyclone forces draw between Odisha and Services
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No play was possible on the fourth and final day as Cyclone Arnab over the Bay of Bengal continued to disrupt the match between Odisha and Services at the KIIT Stadium in Bhubaneswar, forcing the teams to share one point each.
Services had elected to field and bowled Odisha out for 194 in 82.3 overs in their first innings. Swastik Samal (39), Gourav Choudhary (41) and Anil Parida (36) were the main contributors for Odisha, while left-arm spinner Pulkit Narang claimed 6/47 for Services.
Services reached 40 without loss in 12 overs in their first innings, with Nitin Tanwar unbeaten on 23 and Shubham Rohilla on 17.
However, no play was possible on the second, third and fourth days due to the adverse weather conditions.
Brief Scores:
At Mangalapuram: Bengal 350 and 198. Kerala 141 and 120 in 38.4 overs (MD Nidheesh 33, Mohammed Azharuddeen 26; Pradipta Pramanik 6/51, Shahbaz Ahmed 2/19). Bengal won by 287 runs. Points: Bengal 6, Kerala 0.
At Ranchi: Delhi 515/5 declared. Jharkhand 131/4. Match drawn. Points: Delhi 3, Jharkhand 1.
At Bhubaneswar: Odisha 194. Services 40/0. Match drawn. Points: Odisha 1, Services 1. PTI TAP TAP AH
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