Bengal Faces Uphill Battle Against Kerala in Ranji Trophy Clash
Easwaran's Heroics Needed as Bengal Chases Daunting Target
On the last day of their Ranji Trophy match against Kerala at Thumba in Thiruvananthapuram, Bengal had a mountain to climb.
Bengal were 77 for the loss of two wickets at stumps on the last day, after Kerala had set a challenging 449 for the visitors after declaring their second innings at 265/6.
Bengal must score 372 more runs on Monday in order to win this match and, in some way, maintain their aspirations of making the playoffs. With 72 runs in the first innings, Abhimanyu Easwaran led Bengal in scoring. He is now batting on 33 at the crease.
It makes sense that if Bengal are to have any chance of winning the game or even just avoiding loss, Easwaran has to have a huge innings. Bengal's triumph from this position would be nothing short of a miracle given their precarious batting.
True, Bengal still have Anustup Majumdar to come, and in the fourth innings, Shahbaz Ahmed also performed well at the bat. The spinning all-rounder has shown in the past that he is capable of performing well under duress and in high-stress circumstances.
Nevertheless, Shahbaz hasn't played in a Ranji edition before because of an ailment that kept him out for a while. Anustup, on the other hand, may find things more difficult going forward if he hasn't been among runs in the past few innings, particularly on that turner.
The conditions at Thumba are so bad that bowler Akash Deep, who is in the Indian team for the next three Test matches against England, didn't deliver an over during the second innings.
Day III began with Bengal on 172/8 after Jalaj Saxena (9/68) bagged nine in the first session as Bengal was bowled out for 180. In the second, the all-round spinner scored 37 to start the innings before dismissing Ranjot Khaira, Easwaran's opening partner.
Bengal 180 (J. Saxena 9/68) & 77/2 (A. Easwaran 33 batting) & Kerala 363 & 265/6 decl. Day III at stumps.
Mumbai is in the lead
Fast bowler Tushar Deshpande (5/121) claimed five wickets to help Mumbai defeat Chhattisgarh by one run in the first innings on Sunday in Raipur. In their second essay, Mumbai were 97/1, dismissing the hosts for 350.
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