Bengal Faces Humiliating Defeat to Mumbai in Ranji Trophy Group B Clash

Bengal was let down by their batsmen as they suffered a humiliating loss to Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy Group B encounter on Sunday at Eden Gardens.

On the third day of the match, Mumbai won by an innings and four runs, causing the host team to suffer their first defeat of the year.

Bengal was requested to continue after they were all out for 199 in the first inning in response to the opposition's 412 total. However, they were bundled out for 209 and hardly did any better in the second essay either.

Mohit Avasthi, a right-arm bowler, emerged as the game's standout with ten wickets, including a 7/52 in the second innings.

Bengal had only one batsman who offered some fight in their second run, similar to Anustup Majumdar in the first. This time, keeper-battler Abishek Porel struck a heroic 82 off 83 balls, but his heroic effort was unable to keep his club alive.

Bengals are presently third in the standings with 12 points after their first five games of the season, following their first defeat of the year. Mumbai, on the other side, leads with 27 points after four victories this year.

"After this defeat, we feel let down. Our collective performance was lacking, particularly in the batting category. Still, we have two games left to play. In our next game (beginning on February 9), we shall return stronger against Kerala," Bengals head coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla said after the game.

After their first innings performance, the home side was 213 runs down and one was expecting them to play better on Sunday. However, the start was nervous as they were bowled out for 44/2 in less than 10 overs. After that, they never fully recovered.

Centurion Anustup was out for 14 in the first innings, while skipper Manoj Tiwary managed only 26.

Quick results: Bengal 199 and 209 (Abishek Porel 82; Mohit Avasthi 7/52). Mumbai 412. Mumbai prevailed by four runs in an innings.

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