Vijay Hazare Trophy : Bengal ease past Goa in the first match

Sreevats-GoswamiRajkot ,December 10: Bengal started  their Vijay Hazare Trophy campaign on a winning note . Manoj Tiwary led Bengal   defeating Goa by 6 wickets at the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground here in Rajkot. Bengal Captain Manoj Tiwary decide to field first after winning the toss. Pacer Ashoke Dinda struck early to remove Goan opener Amogh Desai. Goa Captain Sagun Kamat scored a decent 55 before being bowled by Bengal spinner Aamir Gani. Ashoke Dinda who was in red hot form during the ongoing Ranji Trophy was the peak of the bowlers  with 3 wickets.He got the prized wicket of  Swapnil Asnodkar. Goa  set Bengal a target of 235 runs . Bengal started their run chase on a bright note , inspired by some fine batting performance by skipper Manoj, opener Sreevats Goswami and SayanSekhar Mondal. The tone was set by the Bengal openers Sreevats Goswami and Sayan Sekhar Mondal who both scored half centuries. Sreevats Goswami made a steady 70 in 77 balls  with 10 fours. Later Captain Manoj Tiwary blasted a 48 ball 62 to get his team across. Manoj’s innings included eight fours and two massive sixes. Fresh from scoring his first hundred in first class cricket against Assam , Sreevats credited his Kalighat  teammate Sayan Sekhar Mondal  for the opening partnership .

Captain Manoj Tiwary wants to leave behind his knock today and focus on the game against Himachal Pradesh ,“ We don’t have any separate plans for Rishi Dhawan. It gives me immense pleasure to play a part in Bengal’s win.” He also lauded Bengal’s team performance. Bengal  earned four points with the win and will face Himachal Pradesh tomorrow . Himachal Pradesh  lost their opening match today against Uttar Pradesh.Bengal have been clubbed with Goa, Himachal Pradesh, UP.Madhya Pradesh and Saurashtra in Group D in this tournament.