Majumdar and Gharami tons power Bengal into a strong position – T20 IPL 2024

Bengal 307 for 4 (Majumdar 120, Gharami 112, Agarwal 2-21) vs Madhya Pradesh

In what is a rematch of last season‘s Ranji Trophy semi-final, Bengal finished the first day in a stronger position – against defending champions Madhya Pradesh – courtesy twin centuries from Sudip Kumar Gharami and Anustup Majumdar. The duo batted for 69 overs through the afternoon to add 241 runs for the third wicket, however, MP reduced the advantage with the wickets of the two set batters late in the day. At stumps, Bengal finished on 307 for 4, scoring at a run rate of 3.52 in the 87 overs that were possible on day one in Indore.

Bengal, the away side, chose to bat first at the toss, and it was their openers Karan Lal and Abhimanyu Easwaran who started off in a brisk manner. The pair added 51 runs ins 12.3 overs before MP dismissed both batters in the space of four deliveries. Easwaran was the first to go on 27, bowled by Gaurav Yadav, and Lal was out for 23 from the other end to a similar full-pitched ball from Anubhav Agarwal.

With Bengal slipping from 51 for no loss to 51 for 2, MP had their tail up. However, the new batters Gharami and Majumdar turned the tide of the innings, frustrating the hosts through lunch, through tea and right up to the drinks break in the day’s final session.

Majumdar, the 38-year-old veteran of the Bengal line-up, struck 13 fours and a six in his 120 while Gharami, the 23-year-old right-hand batter, hit 12 fours and two sixes in his 112. While both of them survived a dropped chance apiece, they were fluent in their strokeplay. Gharami often went inside out over the off side to the spinners, while Majumdar offered stability at the top of their partnership before dominating in the afternoon session. That allowed Bengal to move to lunch at 111 for 2, and by tea had reached 213 for 2.

It looked like the pair would finish unbeaten at the end of the day, more so with MP’s bowling unit finding it difficult to breach their stand, but the new ball, in the 83rd over, brought some respectability to MP’s bowling effort. Avesh Khan struck when he got a full ball to Majumdar to angle away and rattle the stumps. Next over, Gharami was trapped LBW by Agarwal, and it was the second time in the day that Bengal lost both set batters in succession.

Against the setting sun, MP tried to sneak in another wicket before stumps, however, it wasn’t to be. No. 5 Manoj Tiwary (5*) and No. 6 Shahbaz Ahmed (6*) saw through the day, taking Bengal past 300 with six wickets still in hand.

Agarwal, with his 2 for 21 in 12 overs, was the tidiest MP bowler. Avesh bowled 20 overs for 79 runs, with only the lone wicket with the second new ball to show. The final of the Ranji Trophy will be played later this month between the winner of this fixture and the winner of the semifinal between Karnataka and Saurashtra, which is currently being played in Bengaluru.

Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @sreshthx

Source: ESPN Crickinfo

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