Ranji Trophy 2025-26: Shami, Easwaran guide Bengal to emphatic win over Uttarakhand in opening round
Mohammed Shami’s industrious four-wicket haul and captain Abhimanyu Easwaran’s unbeaten half-century helped Bengal turn around a dreary Ranji Trophy Group-C match on the final day and begin its campaign with an emphatic eight-wicket win over Uttarakhand at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday.
Starting from 165 for two, Uttarakhand was all out for 265 in its second innings. Chasing 156, Bengal achieved the target comfortably to gather six points.
On a slow pitch with the old ball, an inspired Shami, resuming from his overnight three-over spell, bowled six more tidy overs and got a major breakthrough by trapping Uttarakhand skipper Kunal Chandela (72, 235b, 8×4) lbw in the 10th over of the day.
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The script changed dramatically after Bengal took the second new ball in the 82nd over and secured five more wickets by lunch. Bhupen Lalwani, Shashwat Dangwal and Jagadeesa Suchith fell in 83rd, 84 th and 85th overs respectively with Ishan Porel taking two and Akash Deep one.
Yuvraj Choudhary (35, 33b, 6×4, 1×6) and Abhay Negi (28, 23b, 5×4) counterattacked, forging a 49-ball 64-run stand, as Akash received some special treatment.
Shami broke the stand by having Negi caught at third-man. Soon, Suraj Jaiswal removed Yuvraj, who was held spectacularly by Akash on the straight boundary.
In the post-lunch session, Uttarakhand’s innings lasted for four deliveries as Shami claimed two-in-two.
The Bengal batters showed a positive intent and scored faster, at an average of 5.32 runs per over, to put pressure on the visitors. Abhimanyu (71 not out, 82b, 6×4), who cut, drove and flicked for his fours and ran well between the wickets, gathered 51 runs with Sudip Chatterjee and 76 with Sudip Gharami (46, 47b, 5×4, 1×6) to set the stage for Bengal’s Diwali celebrations.
“The fire in the boys propelled us to the win,” said Bengal coach Laxmi Ratan Shukla.
Published on Oct 18, 2025
