Ranji Trophy 2022/23 Final : Saurashtra shines on Day 1 against Bengal at Eden Gardens

On Day 1 of Ranji Trophy 2022/23 Final between Bengal and Saurashtra, the visitors won the toss and put the home team to bat first on an Eden Gardens pitch which slows down by the 4th innings. The average 1st innings score at Eden Gardens is 323 runs but Bengal managed to score only 174 runs in their first innings.

Bengal’s Top 3 batters could not even score more than 5 runs as Sumanta Gupta and Abhimanyu Easwaran (openers) got out for 1 & 0 while 2nd down Sudip Kumar Gharami also got out for 0 and Bengal were 2/3 in 1.4 overs. The following 3 batters were not able to handle matters either.

It's Tea on the opening Day of the @mastercardindia #RanjiTrophy #Final!

Bengal added 8⃣8⃣ runs in the Second Session

Saurashtra scalped a wicket on the final ball of the session.

The final session of the Day coming up soon.

Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/hwbkaDeBSj #BENvSAU pic.twitter.com/PBbdYp8VDq

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 16, 2023

Anustup Majumdar, Captain Manoj Tiwary and Akash Ghatak shared only 40 runs between them as the trio got out for 16, 7 & 17 respectively. On that point it seemed unthinkable if Bengal will be able to cross the 150-run mark but Shahbaz Ahmed and Wicket-keeper Batter Abhishek Porel steadied their ship by partnering for 101 runs.

Innings Break!

Saurashtra bowl out Bengal for 174.

3⃣ wickets each for @Sakariya55 & captain @JUnadkat
2⃣ wickets each for Dharmendrasinh Jadeja & Chirag Jani

Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/hwbkaDeBSj #RanjiTrophy | #Final | #BENvSAU | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/2fp1hN7WO7

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 16, 2023

S.Ahmed was the first get out for 69 off 112 and Porel departed for 50 runs off 98 deliveries. Saurashtra’s sensational bowling display ripped off Bengal’s top & middle order with skipper Jaydev Unadkat and Chetan Sakariya taking 3 wickets each while Chirag Jani and Dharmendrasinh Jadeja scalped 2 wickets each.

That's Lunch on Day 1️⃣ of the @mastercardindia #RanjiTrophy #Final!

6️⃣ wickets for Saurashtra
7⃣8⃣ runs for Bengal

We will be back for the Second Session shortly!

Scorecard 👉 https://t.co/hwbkaDeBSj #BENvSAU pic.twitter.com/zrUqzBttve

— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) February 16, 2023

Prerak Mankad was the only bowler to remain wicket less but Saurashtra folded Bengal for 174 easily. In the 2nd innings, the 2019/20 winners got off to a decent start but Opener Jay Gohil received his marching orders while he was on 6 runs as Akash Deep made it 38/1.

Saurashtra lost another wicket in the 15th over as Vishvaraj Jadeja was edged out by Mukesh Kumar and Abhishek Porel did not make any mistake behind the stumps. The 1st day has come to an end and Saurashtra are currently 81/2 and they trail by 93 runs.