Ranji Trophy Quarterfinals | Bengal thumps Andhra by an innings and 90 runs, enters semifinals

A ascendant Bengal outplayed Andhra by an innings and 90 runs to proceed its winning momentum and beforehand to the Ranji Trophy semifinals successful benignant astatine the Bengal Cricket Academy crushed present connected Tuesday.

Andhra, resuming its 2nd innings astatine 64 for three, was bowled retired for 244 arsenic the host, boosted by Shahbaz Ahmed’s four-wicket haul, completed the formalities wrong 2 sessions connected the last time of the quarterfinal contention and acceptable up a last-four clash with Jammu and Kashmir astatine the aforesaid venue.

Bengal past played successful the semifinals successful the 2022-23 season.

Since the effect of the lucifer was a foregone conclusion, Andhra batters resisted successful their bid to debar an outright defeat. However, with small to summation and batter K.S. Bharat nursing an injury, it was hard for the tourists to enactment up a spirited fight.

Shahbaz, who had taken a wicket overnight, provided the breakthrough successful the greeting league by removing Andhra skipper Ricky Bhui, who was brilliantly caught astatine silly point. The pursuing 2 overs produced 2 much wickets with Suraj Jaiswal trapping K.V. Sasikanth lbw and Shahbaz having Saurabh Kumar caught astatine square-leg.

With Bengal opting to springiness its pacers a break, the strong-willed Nitish Reddy (90, 144b, 7x4, 2x6), who played immoderate good shots connected either side, batted defiantly to adhd 57 with K.S. Raju and 85 with T. Vijay (46, 61b, 6x4, 2x6).

Part-time leg-spinner Anustup Majumdar dismissed Raju astatine the changeable of lunch.

The Nitish-Vijay concern tested Bengal’s patience earlier Nitish’s brushed dismissal disconnected Shahbaz charged up the location side.

Sumanta Gupta captured Vijay’s wicket to trigger celebrations arsenic Bharat chose not to bat.

Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran credited Bengal’s squad effort. “The squad is peaking astatine the close time. We are winning important moments this year,” helium said, lauding each the players, including Akash Deep, who performed contempt moving a fever.

The scores: Andhra – 1st innings: 295.

Bengal – 1st innings: 629.

Andhra – 2nd innings: C.R. Gnaneshwar b Jaiswal 20, Abhishek Reddy b Akash 5, Shaik Rasheed st. Gandhi b Shahbaz 8, Ricky Bhui c (sub) Subham b Shahbaz 30, Nitish Reddy c & b Shahbaz 90, K.V. Sasikanth lbw b Jaiswal 0, Saurabh Kumar c Abhimanyu b Shahbaz 1, K.S. Raju c Chatterjee b Majumdar 25, T. Vijay c (sub) Rahul b Sumanta 46, K. Saiteja (not out) 0, K.S. Bharat (absent hurt) 0; Extras (b-4, lb-5, nb-9, w-1): 19; Total (in 72.2 overs): 244.

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-43, 3-45, 4-92, 5-93, 6-96, 7-153, 8-238, 9-244.

Bengal bowling: Mukesh 9-2-23-0, Akash 8-2-13-1, Jaiswal 15-3-42-2, Shami 3-1-7-0, Shahbaz 24-3-72-4, Sumanta 5.2-0-35-1, Majumdar 8-1-43-1.