Ranji Trophy: Australia return Wriddhiman Saha slams ton to lead Bengal comeback

Elsewhere in Group A, MP for 270/7 on Day 1, UP bowled out for 182 and Baroda settle for 271/7 on Day 1.

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Saha made an unbeaten 129 to take Bengal to 312/7 at stumps from a precarious 68/4 at one stage. (Source: PTI)

Not less than 48 hours after returning from the gruelling tour to Australia, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha slammed an unbeaten century to script Bengal’s stunning comeback against Jammu and Kashmir on the opening day of Group A Ranji Trophy match.

Having just returned from Australia on late Sunday night, Saha was quick to adjust to his home condition as his unbeaten 129 off 202 balls (18x4s, 1×6) took Bengal to 312 for seven at stumps from a precarious 68 for four at one stage after opting to bat at the Eden Gardens.

While a relaxed Saha led Bengal’s stunning comeback with his ninth first-class century, skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla lent a fine support to the wicketkeeper with a defiant 72 from 123 balls (9x4s, 1×6) in a 144-run fifth wicket partnership.

In the morning, Jammu and Kashmir skipper Parvez Rasool (2/57) rattled the Bengal top-order with two wickets in
successive deliveries when the off-spinner dismissed Arindam Das (30) and castled Sudip Chatterjee (0) with a doosra in his second over.

Later, Jammu and Kahsmir new ball bowler Ram Dayal (2/88) scalped the in-form duo of Abhimanyu Easwaran (21) and skipper Manoj Tiwary (9) as Bengal lost four wickets in 19 runs and looked in dire straits at 98 for four at the lunch break.

Brief Scores: Bengal 1st innings: 312 for seven in 90 overs (Wriddhiman Saha 129 batting, Laxmi Ratan Shukla 72; Parvez Rasool 2/57).

Shreyas Gopal restricts MP for 270/7 on Day 1

Leg-spinner Shreyas Gopal denied Aditya Shrivastava (91) a hundred in a three-wicket haul as Karnataka reduced Madhya Pradesh to 270 for seven on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group A match.

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Harpreet Singh, batting at number six, scored a quick-fire 53 with eight fours and a six to lend some respectability to his team’s total.

Seasoned paceman Abhimanyu Mithun removed him at the fag end of the day to expose Madhya Pradesh’s tail.

Ankit Sharma (11) and SS Jain (12) though ensured that the hosts do not lose any more wicket before the end of the
play.

Brief Scores: Madhya Pradesh 1st innings: 270 for 7 in 90 overs (Aditya Shrivastava 91, Naman Ojha 54, Harpreet Singh 53; Shreyas Gopal (3/48)).

UP bowled out for 182

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Tamil Nadu replied with 53 for the loss of two wickets after bowling out Uttar Pradesh for just 182 on the first day of their Group A Ranji Trophy match.

At stumps, left-handed opening batsman Ahbinav Mukund (26) and Baba Aprajith (1) were at the crease.

Earlier, electing to bat, Uttar Pradesh were struggling at 36 for two, before slipping to 89 for five in the 40th over.

Baroda settle for 271/7 on Day 1 after good start

Opener Kedar Devdhar played a superb 80-run knock and shared a 107-run stand with skipper Aditya Waghmode (41) as Baroda scored 271 for seven against Railways on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Group A match.

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India discard Irfan Pathan (30) did his bit before being undone by Anureet Singh (2/45) but failed to convert the start into a big knock.

Pinal Shah (26) and Swapnil Singh (19) will resume Baroda innings on Wednesday.

Brief Scores: Baroda 1st innings: 271 for 7 in 91 overs.(Kedar Devdhar 80, Aditya Waghmode 41; Arnab Nandi 3/68).

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