Internet Desk: Manoj Tiwary led Bengal cricket team is just a day away to reach the semifinals of the Ranji Trophy as they have already taken a mammoth of a lead of 613 runs at the end of Day 4 against the defending champions Gujarat today. Bengal has the all-important first innings lead under their belt and a draw on the final day will take them to the semis where they will face mighty Delhi.
Bengal resumed the day at 177 for 1, with a healthy lead of 130 runs. Abhimanyu Easwaran (114) hit back to back centuries in both the innings on a same venue in two seasons and he is the only cricketer who has achieved this feat. Last season he had scored back to back centuries in both the innings against UP at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium where Bengal is playing their quarterfinals today. Beside him, Writtick Chatterjee (210*) too smashed his maiden first-class double ton today to give his side a huge lead against Gujarat. Beside that Gujarat is in further trouble as their skipper and wicket-keeper batsman left the field after he suffered an injury in his left hand. The veteran cricketer didn’t return to the field after that which has raised questions on his fitness as he is scheduled to go to South Africa with the Indian team as a second wicket-keeper batsman.
Beside Easwaran and Writtick, Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary (59) and wicket-keeper batsman Shreevats Goswami (32) kept the scoreboard moving as Bengal has a lead of 613 runs with seven wickets still intact in hand.
Manoj will be banking upon Ashok Dinda and Ishan Porel if they decide to declare and think of reaching the semis with a win except for a draw.
Brief scores
Bengal 354 & 483 for 4 (Abhimanyu Eswaran 114, Writtick Chatterjee 210*; Ishwar Chadh 2 for 70) lead Gujarat 224 (Bhargav Merai 67, Parthiv Patel 47, Rujul Bhatt 32, Piyush Chawla 43; Ashok Dinda 3 for 48, Ishan Porel 3 for 64, Boddupalli Amit 3 for 53) by 613 runs.