Ranji Trophy Semis: Gharami, Majumdar score Tons as Bengal close Day 1 at 307/4 against MP
Bengal’s Battling Perform Dominates Day 1 of Ranji Trophy Semifinal. The Ranji Trophy semi-final between Bengal and Madhya Pradesh was an exciting and intense match. The first day saw Bengal’s Sudip Gharami and Anustup Majumdar team up for a 241-run partnership for the third wicket, putting the home team in a strong position.
A Strong Partnership from Gharami and Majumdar
Bengal’s young batsman Sudip Gharami and veteran Anustup Majumdar showed their skill and determination in the Ranji Trophy semifinal against defending champions Madhya Pradesh. The duo frustrated the opposition with a 241-run partnership for the third wicket, seeing off bowlers Gaurav Yadav and Anubhav Agarwal in the first session and overcoming short-ball and spin threats from Avesh Khan, Saransh Jain, and Kumar Kartikeya.
Century Celebrations
Majumdar reached his 13th First-Class hundred off 176 balls with a pull to deep square-leg, a shot he employed throughout the day against Avesh. He celebrated the landmark by wryly sticking his taped left thumb out, still sore from the previous match.
Meanwhile, Gharami achieved his 183-ball century with a bold reverse sweep, a shot he had not explored until that point in the day. The 23-year-old had taken advantage of Madhya Pradesh’s inaccurate pace bowling, pouncing on fuller deliveries and half-volleys with crisp drives and deft flicks.
The New Ball Brings Hope for Madhya Pradesh
Both Gharami and Majumdar were dismissed within two overs of the second new ball, with Avesh castling Majumdar and Anubhav trapping Gharami. Although the spinners were largely ineffective, the new ball has given Madhya Pradesh a foothold. Bengal ended the day at 307 for 4, but with the promise of captain Manoj Tiwary and Shahbaz Ahmed, the home team could face a challenging next day.
Despite the loss of their top batsmen, Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary and Shahbaz Ahmed hold the promise of leading their team to a large score on the second day of the match. The Ranji Trophy semifinal promises excitement as Madhya Pradesh gains a foothold with the new ball and a generous layer of grass covers the pitch.
