Pragyan answers his critics in style
Internet Desk: Bengal continued their unbeaten run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, as they beat heavyweight Mumbai by a convincing margin of 96 runs at the M A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on Friday. They are on the verge of qualifying for the next round of the tournament. Manoj Tiwary’s team posted a total of 230 runs on the board as they were all out on 49th over of the innings. In reply Mumbai just managed to score 134 runs before getting all out.
Earlier Manoj won the toss and choose to bat first against Mumbai. Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran and veteran spinner Pragyan Ojha were the heroes of their side as they played a vital role in their team’s victory. Eswaran (127) scored his maiden ton in List A career to help Bengal to a respective score of 230 runs. During his play, Abhimanyu hit 8 boundaries and 2 huge sixes for his side. Except Eswaran no other Bengal batsman were able to score big runs as Shardul Thakur (4/47) and Abhishek Nayar (3/35) bowled brilliantly for Mumbai.
Went into bowl, Bengal’s left-arm orthodox spinner Pragyan Ojha (3/28) bowled brilliantly for his side. He took three top batsman of Mumbai Shreyas Iyer (34), Aditya Tare (20) and Abhishek Nayar (0) to break their batting order. He was well backed by Sayan Ghosh (3/48) and Ashoke Dinda (2/8) as Mumbai were all out on 134 runs in 36.2 overs.
Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary was very happy about his team’s play. “I am very happy with my team’s performance. In these days it is very difficult to win a one day match with only 230 runs in your kitty. Mumbai is a very good side but our bowlers bowled really well. Dinda and Kanishk Seth gave us a brilliant start with three quick wickets, on the other hand Ojha and Sayan capitalized on that pressure well,” Manoj said.
Manoj also backed his team mate Pragyan Ojha after his brilliant performance. Bengal skipper added,” In these days you have to bowl with five players inside the circle in one days which is really very difficult. You need a lot of experience to bowl in this situations and Ojha has that experience with him. With that experience Ojha took three important wickets of Mumbai including Abhishek Nayar.”
Earlier in Ranji Trophy Mumbai took a first innings lead against Bengal by a whisker and after today’s win I am a bit relived added Manoj. The Bengal captain also said,” Abhimanyu was brilliant today and Amir Gani and Anustup Majumder backed him well too in today’s match but our batsmen have to be more careful for the next matches including me and we have to contribute more for the team.”
It was Abhimanyu’s maiden century in List A cricket. He was very happy to contribute for his team.” We lost wickets in regular intervals but I was very much comfortable against Abhishek Nayar and Shardul Thakur. My only aim was to play for full 50 overs and I am happy that I have done something for my side,” he added.
Bengal have won their all four matches and they are almost through to the next round. But the Bengal opener said they want to seal their place in the next round by beating Madhya Pradesh in the next match.” We want to cement our place for the next round and for that It is important for us to win our next match against Madhya Pradesh on Saturday.”
Veteran left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha is happy to contribute for his side. On being asked whether today’s performance was his answer to the critics, Pragyan said,” I don’t play to give the answers to my critics. My only job is to play well and help my team to win and I am doing that from the first day of my career. I am happy that I have taken three wickets against a side like Mumbai which helped our team to win. The wicket was a bit slow and that helped us a bit.”