Internet Desk: A superb spell of fast bowling from Shardul Thakur and Dhawal Kulkarni restricted Bengal to a paltry score of 99 runs on Day 1 of the Ranji Trophy Group A clash at Nagpur. Mumbai is reply has scored 164/5, already taking alead of 65 runs with five wickets in hand. In a meek surrender Bengal lost its last six wickets for just 9 runs handing Mumbai the driver’s seat at stumps.
Mumbai won a good toss and put Bengal in first. None of the top order batsmen showed any craft, skill or temperament as Shardul wrecked havoc. Debutant Abhishek Raman with a defiant 21 and Sudip Chatterjee with 35 showed a semblance of a fight. Skipper Manoj Tiwary also departed at 11 reducing Bengal to 90 for 4.
But what happened next was a disaster for Bengal as six wickets fell in a span of 32 balls with only 9 runs being added. Shardul returned with figures of six for 31 in 13 overs, with Dhawal Kulkarni bagging 3 for 22 in 10.3 overs. The fourth highest score in Bengal innings was notched up by extras that accounted for 14 valuable runs.
Mumbai in reply looked to attack the Bengal bowlers and raced to 50 in just 8 overs. J G Bista (26 off 26 deliveries) and Kaustav P (78) gave Mumbai a flying start, before the former was picked up by Amit Kuila. Shreyas Iyer was also scoring merrily reaching 28 off 40 balls before he was sent back by Ashoke Dinda. A late burst from Mukesh Kumar ensured that Kaustav and hard hitting Surya Yadav (8) to bring some hope back in the ranks.
At stumps skipper Aditya Tare and Dhawal Kulkarni were batting on 13 and 2 respectively. It will be an uphill task for Bengal from here on as they stare at a huge loss which might also dent their chances of making it to the knock-out stages.