Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Bengal begins with a bang: Bengal begins with a bang: Team Bengal began their engagements in the domestic T20 tournament, Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2016, with a win in their opening encounter against Hyderabad.
The first game of the tournament between Bengal and Hyderabad, was played today (2nd January 2016) at Vidharbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur.
Bengal won the toss and elected to bat.
Openers, wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha and Sayan Mondal gave a thunderous start scoring 138 runs in 14.2 overs for the first wicket, when Mondal departed but not before contributing a well made 50 runs off just 41 deliveries with 4 fours and a six. This was his maiden half-century in this format, since making his debut on 12th March, 2011.
Another 5 runs later, Saha left at the team score of 143/2 in 15.2 overs. Saha had notched up 81 runs off 47 deliveries, aided by 7 fours and 5 sixes. Playing in his 130th game (107th innings), Saha missed his second Mushtaq Ali Trophy century very narrowly.
A 34-run third-wicket partnership between skipper Manoj Tiwary (29) and the young Bengal batting sensation, Sudip Chatterjee (14) ensured that Bengal ended their innings with 185 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 20 overs.
Chasing a target of 186 runs to win, Hyderabad succumbed under the pressure of the Bengal bowling attack, comprising of Mohammad Shami, Sayan Mondal, Pragyan Ojha, all of whom have been amongst wickets.
It was really good to see Shami recover from injury and get into competitive cricket after a long layoff. He immediately got into the act and started picking wickets. His spell of 2.2 overs fetched him the wickets of Tanmay Agarwal (0), skipper Hanuma Vihari (14) and Mohammad Siraj (2), giving away 18 runs in the process.
Pragyan Ojha returned with the figures of 4-1-23-3 while Sayan Mondal ended with the analysis 4-0-35-2.
Except for an 18-ball 32 runs by Akshath Reddy, no other Hyderabad batsman could make any significant impact and the team was bundled out for 124 runs in 162 overs.
Bengal registered their first victory in the season by 61 runs.
