Ranji Trophy: Bengal struggled on the first day of their Ranji Trophy Group C match against Madhya Pradesh at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on Wednesday, with Mohammed Shami going wicketless in his first competitive match.
Madhya Pradesh chose to bowl, and after dismissing Bengal for 228 in their first innings, they were 103/1 at stumps. For the visitors to maintain their limited aspirations of making it to the quarterfinals, they must win hands down.
In two periods, the 34-year-old Shami conceded 34 runs in 10 overs of bowling. He bowled four overs to start the attack and then came back for another six-over session in the last hour of the day.
One member of the Bengal squad said that Shami bowled “reasonably well” throughout his 10-over stint.
The ODI World Cup final in Ahmedabad on November 19 of last year was Shami’s last international match. After suffering an ankle injury during the quadrennial showcase event, he had surgery.
Shami may be included in the Indian team for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia if he can demonstrate his fitness.
The National Cricket Academy’s medical staff, under the direction of Nitin Patel, kept a careful eye on the fast bowler’s development and level of fitness on the field.
Ishan Porel and Rishav Vivek’s injuries have hurt Bengal’s attack, while Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep are in Australia on national duty.
For the first time, Shami was also seen playing with his younger brother Mohammed Kaif, who trapped opener Himanshu Mantri lbw for 13 and claimed the lone wicket in the MP innings.
Rajat Patidar was scoring 41 off 55 balls, while Shubhranshu Senapati, the other opener, shown tenacity by hitting 44 off 103 balls at stumps.
Earlier, opener Shuvam Dey and No. 4 Rohit Kumar were dismissed for golden ducks as Bengal’s top order collapsed. Bengal was left reeling at 42/4 after Sudip Chatterjee (15) and Sudip Gharami (10), who were both removed cheaply.
But with a tough half-century, Shabaz Ahmed saved the squad with a brilliant knock. When Shahbaz and captain Anustup Majumdar formed a vital 96-run partnership, Bengal was 79/5. Anustup’s sore neck prevented him from batting at his typical No. 4 position.
Shahbaz (92) raised the stakes when Anustup was dismissed and came within eight runs of a second first-class century. Then, for the first time in a competitive match, Shami batted alongside his brother Kaif.
Madhya Pradesh’s best bowler was Aryan Pandey (4/47)
Bengal scored 228 runs in 51.2 overs, with Shahbaz Ahmed scoring 92, Anustup Majumdar scoring 44, Aryan Pandey getting 4/47, and Kulwant Khejroliya scoring 4/84. 103/1 Madhya Pradesh.
At the Goa Cricket Association Academy venue at Porvorim, Arunachal Pradesh was bowled out for 84 by Goa, and Arjun Tendulkar claimed his first-ever five-wicket haul in first-class cricket. Arjun has 16 wickets from four games after taking 5/25.
