Internet Desk: A brilliant 77-run partnership between Bengal’s star pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Ashok Dinda for last wicket helped the side to post a mammoth of a total on board against Services as Bengal declared on 552 for 9. While batting Services have scored 103 for 1 at the end of Day at Palam Airport ground on Saturday.
Bengal started the day’s proceedings on 341 for 3. They lost Sudip Chaterjee pretty early but Wriddhiman Saha (55) and Amir Gani (51) helped Bengal to post a big total on wicket which has started to become slow and flat. With a target of finishing the innings early and yet achieving the target set by the team management Ashok Dinda tore into the Services attack pillaging 8 boundaries and two sixes enroute his unbeaten 25 ball 55 runs. He was ably supported by Mohammed Shami who remained unbeaten on 23 off just 22 balls.
“I enjoyed the batting. I decided to hit out as we wanted to reach the target of 55 early. It was fun to be able to hit the ball so well,” said Ashok.
Bengal began the defense of the target in bright fashion as Md Shami trapped Nakul Verma lbw with one that came in late, but after that the Services batters just dropped anchor. The fact that the wicket was getting easier with each passing minute did not help the bowlers as Manoj tried both pace and spin to get a few more wickets.
“It was not easy. The wicket is playing really easy. But that is not an excuse. Tomorrow hopefully there will be some life in the morning that we have to utilise and then wait for reverse swing as the ball gets older. If that doesn’t happen the game just gets tougher for us,” a concerned Manoj Tiwari said.
But with the batters doing good in their department, Skipper Tiwari can only keep his fingers crossed that the senior pros of Dinda and Shami will do the job at hand and will be ably supported by Kanishk Seth and B Amit.
With inputs from CAB media.