Follow UsBengal’s Mohammed Shami produced a stunning spell of fast bowling to guide Bengal to a 141-run win over Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy at Eden Gardens. It was Bengal’s first win against Gujarat in the tournament since 2003.
After Bengal declared their second innings at 214/8, they set Gujarat a target of 326. The visitors looked in control as Urvil Patel and Jaymeet Patel built a solid 100-run partnership. Urvil, who had already scored a quickfire century, appeared unstoppable and was racing towards the target.
The game changed when Urvil suffered a painful hand cramp and had to retire hurt. Bengal seized the moment as left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed, who had taken six wickets in the first innings, struck twice in one over, removing Umang Kumar and Chintan Gaja, giving Bengal new hope.
That was when Shami returned for a fiery second spell and blew the lower order away. He bowled with pace and accuracy, shattering Vishal Jayswal’s stumps and then removing Het Patel and Arzan Nagwaswalla in quick succession. Gujarat’s innings fell apart, collapsing from 153/3 to 185 all out in just 10 overs.
Shami finished with five wickets in the innings and eight in the match, taking his tally to 15 wickets from two Ranji games this season. His spell further intensified the talks about a possible return to the national side after missing the recent Test series against the West Indies.
With this victory, Bengal have won two games in a row in the current season of the Ranji Trophy, having also beaten Uttarakhand earlier.