Ranji Trophy Semifinal: Bengal Dominate Defending Champs MP by Taking Overall 547-run Lead, Inch Closer to Final

Bengal sealed their place in the Ranji Trophy final for the second time in three seasons after taking a massive 547-run lead against defending champions Madhya Pradesh, here on Saturday.

Bengal, who had a massive first innings lead of 268, decided not to declare their second essay and ended the final day at 279 for nine.

Even if the semi-final match ends in a draw on Sunday, the fifth day, Bengal will qualify for the final on the basis of first innings lead.

First-innings centurion Anustup Majumdar, who was on 9 overnight, was dismissed for 80 when he was dismissed by left-arm spinner Kumar Karthikeya in a dubious LBW decision.

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Majumdar was once again the top scorer for Bengal, scoring 120 in the first innings. After Majumdar’s departure, Bengal left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik came in at number 8 and showed depth in the team’s batting with an unbeaten 60 off 101 balls.

Pramanik has so far hit three fours and five sixes in 101 balls.

The opening pair of Pramanik and Ishan Porel (1 not out in 22 balls) kept the Madhya Pradesh attack in check as Tiwary was in a mood to give his batsmen some much-needed practice ahead of the summit clash.

Majumdar and Sudeep Gharami’s first-innings pair of centuries kept the runs going as they lost 2 wickets for 59 runs on the fourth day.

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Off-spinner Saransh Jain finally broke the partnership, trapping Gharami on a ball that didn’t turn much. Both added 85 crucial runs for the third wicket.

Majumdar then shared another useful partnership with skipper Manoj Tiwary (15) which yielded 39 runs.

Jain (6/103) and Kartikeya (3/63) did the hard work for MP, bowling 88 overs between them. But due to the movement of his tail, Bengal moved here and there.

The final is to be held from 16 February.

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Bengal 438 and 279 for 9 in 119 overs (Anustup Majumdar 80, Pradipta Pramanik 60 batting, Sudip Gharami 41; Saransh Jain 6/103, Kumar Kartikeya 3/63).

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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)