Published: Dec 11, 2017, 07:29 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 11, 2017, 07:50 PM (IST)
Abhimanyu Easwaran starred in the knockout stage of Ranji Trophy 2017-18, helping Bengal humiliate Gujarat at Jaipur. Although Writtick Chatterjee scored a spectacular double ton in the second innings, Easwaran’s twin tons kept him ahead in the race for the Player of the Match award. Bengal will now play Delhi in the semi-final from December 21. The venue is yet to be announced.
Easwaran, Majumdar lift Bengal from trouble
Bengal were in trouble in the first session of the opening day, losing 4 wickets for 59 runs. Easwaran and Anustup Majumdar added 175 for the fifth wicket, providing the impetus Bengal were yearning for. Although Majumdar fell for 95, Easwaran continued with the good work. To frustrate Gujarat further, Boddupalli Amit and Aamir Gani scored 36 and 49 respectively, taking Bengal to 354. Ishwar Chaudhary finished with 5 for 87.
Gujarat lose plot
Gujarat conceded a 130-run lead in the first innings. Bhargav Merai (67) and Parthiv Patel (47) tried to steady the innings, but the others could not collectively perform to clear the deficit. Ashok Dinda, Ishan Porel, and Amit took three wickets each.
Bengal bat until they numb Gujarat
Easwaran joined WG Grace, Jack Hobbs, Ricky Ponting, and other legends: he scored twin tons at the same ground. Chatterjee, who had scored a mere 4 in the second innings, fired on all cylinders. He scored his maiden double-hundred in only his sixth First-Class match.
Manoj Tiwary then inflicted more pain, scoring 58 off 177. That was not it. Majumdar, who had missed the hundred by 6 runs in the first innings, blasted 132. Bengal batted until the umpires were forced to call it off due to bad light. They scored 695 for 6, qualifying for the semi-final on first-innings lead.
Brief scores:
Bengal 354 and 695 for 6 (Abhimanyu Eswaran 114, Writtick Chatterjee 216, Anustup Majumdar 132; Ishwar Chadh 2 for 95) beat (on first-innings lead) Gujarat 224 (Bhargav Merai 67, Parthiv Patel 47, Rujul Bhatt 32, Piyush Chawla 43; Ashok Dinda 3 for 48, Ishan Porel 3 for 64, Boddupalli Amit 3 for 53) by 725 runs.
