Kolkata: Riding on an all round performance from Arnab Nandy, East Bengal reached the final of the CAB 1st Division League beating Kalighat by 5 runs at the BCA ground in Kalyani on Sunday. Chasing a target of 384 runs, Kalighat could only manage 378/6 in 85 overs. Kalighat captain Manoj Tiwary’s unbeaten century (104*) went in vain, as he failed to see his team through in the last over. Requiring 12 runs from the last over bowled by B. Amit, Manoj could only manage to score 7 runs.
Kalighat won the toss and put East Bengal in to bat first on Saturday. East Bengal captain Subhajit Banerjee and Arnab Nandy scored half centuries each to take the total to 366 runs. Sunbhajit scored 65 runs while Arnab chipped in with 56 runs. Bidyut Adhikari too scored an unbeaten 55runs. A penalty of 17 runs was added to the East Bengal total as Kalighat bowlers bowled a couple of overs short within the stipulated time.
Chasing a huge 384 runs to win in hot conditions, opener Rohan Banerjee gave Kalighat a good start scoring 84 runs. Dipankar Halder also played well to score 73 runs. But it was left for captain Manoj Tiwary to take Kalighat through to the final. Requiring 12 runs off the last over, Manoj could only manage 7 runs. B.Amit bowled three dot balls to Manoj before he was hit for a six in the fourth ball. Requiring another 6 runs from the last two balls, the Bengal captain could only score a single of the last delivery. Manoj scored an unbeaten 104* off 136 balls that included 4 hits to the fence and a six. Arnab Nandy took 3 wickets for 103 runs.
East Bengal will now face the winners of the second semi final to be played between YMCA and Bhawanipore on April 26-27 at the same venue.
Immediately on taking his club to the final, all rounder Arnab Nandy burst out his frustration for being neglected to play for Bengal. According to Arnab, “We toil hard for our club teams, but our performance gets unnoticed. But only the star players get an opportunity to play the Ranji trophy. Do not know the reason why East Bengal cricketers are being neglected to play for the state team.”
Arnab who had a great season in 2012 scoring 650 runs and took 71 wickets was overlooked due to some unknown reasons. The all rounder who moved to Railways couple of seasons back has only played 5 matches in Ranji Trophy for Bengal. But Arnab is eyeing a return in Bengal in the forthcoming season.
“I look forward to playing for Bengal again. I take it as a challenge to get into the team on the basis of my performance. I am not someone who is willing to run away. It was Sourav who noticed my talent and got me into the Bengal team few seasons back. With him being the President now, I can only hope I get justice,” signed off Arnab.