Published: Feb 14, 2013, 08:29 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 14, 2013, 08:29 PM (IST)
Bengal skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla picked up a five-wicket haul to help his side to victory against Orissa © Getty ImagesKolkata: Feb 14, 2013
A career-best five wicket haul by skipper Laxmi Ratan Shukla helped Bengal clinch a thrilling 11-run win over Orissa in their opening match of the East Zone leg of the one-day cricket tournament for the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Kolkata on Thursday.
Opting to bat on a lively Jadavpur campus wicket at Salt Lake here, Bengal were skittled out for 186 with Manoj Tiwary (55) being the top-scorer.
Chasing a paltry target, Orissa began shakily to be reduced to 94 for five with Ashok Dinda (4/48) and Shukla giving the hosts a fine start.
But a gritty 51 from Orissa skipper Biplab Samantray kept them in the hunt taking them to 20 runs shy of the target in the 40th over.
Shukla (5 for 34) then produced the best spell of his career with his slow medium pace as he ripped apart the Orissa tail including the prized scalp of Samantray to bowl Orissa out for 175 in 41.5 overs.
“It’s great to get my maiden five-wicket haul (in List A cricket). At one point, we were in a spot of bother, so it’s more satisfying that my effort came in a victory,” Shukla said.
At the same time, he urged the batters to buck up.
“Winning the toss was crucial. But batting is still a bit of concern. We hope to improve,” he added.
From the next match, Bengal will not get the services of Dinda and Tiwary as they will be busy doing national duty.Tiwary may return in the late stage of the tournament after his India A stint while Dinda had been ruled out.
