Kolkata: Mohun Bagan rode on Arindam Ghosh’s maiden ton in the country’s first ever pink ball match to take a huge lead of 496 runs against Bhowanipore in the second innings of the CAB Super League Final. The 29-year-old Ghosh, who plays domestic cricket for Railways scored 125 runs off 225 balls that included 11 fours and 5 sixes.
Resuming at 150/4 Mohun Bagan stretched their lead courtesy the partnership of 75 runs for the 7th wicket between Ghosh and Sanjib Sanyal who scored 51 runs. Mohun Bagan eventually ended their second innings at 349 runs, thereby setting a target of 496 runs for Bhowanipore.
Bhowanipore did not have the greatest of starts in the second innings as well with Abhishek Das (21) and Writtick Chatterjee falling in quick succession. To make matters worse, Parthasarathy Bhattacharya had to retire hurt after being hit in the ribs by a Shami bouncer. Subham Chatterjee scored a quickfire half century off 43 balls, before getting out caught by Joyjit of the bowling of Sourav Mondal. Bhowanipore was 113/3 at that time. Uddiyan Mukherjee’s stay at the crease did not long last as he was adjudged leg before off Vivek Singh. Ayan soon followed without troubling the scorers as Bhowanipre was 120/5. Partha returned back to the crease to score 40 runs off 69 balls before getting out leg before to Vivek Singh.
At stumps on Day 3 , Bhowanipore managed to score 132/6 in 35 overs. They will still require another 364 runs to win. Sujit Yadav and Santosh Saba Nayakan were not out on 5* and 1* respectively. Md Shami, Sourav Mondal and Vivek Singh all took 2 wickets each for Mohun Bagan.
Arindam Ghosh, who got his name in the record books by scoring the first hundred in a pink ball match in the country later said, “I have scored plenty of hundreds in first class and club matches. But the hundred that I scored today will be very special as I will be the first batsman to score a hundred. ”
Ghosh smashed off-spinner Writtick Chatterjee over long on to reach the milestone, three overs before tea break. On being asked about the shot he said,”I tried to break the shackles , so I decided to have a go. I would like to dedicate my century to my dad and mom.”