Malda beat Tigers to make Bengal Pro T20 League final

KOLKATA: Writtick Chatterjee has emerged as the most consistent performer in this Bengal Pro T20 league. The all-rounder once again came good both with the ball and bat to help Sobisco Smashers Malda humble Lux Shyam Kolkata Tigers by six wickets in the first semifinal at the Eden Gardens here on Wednesday.
The Malda bowlers did well to restrict Kolkata Tigers to 105 for nine in their 20 overs after their skipper Mukesh Kumar won the toss and put the rivals in.
India pacer Mukesh, has been picked in the 15-member squad for the upcoming tour of Zimbabwe, led from the front bowling his heart out to finish with five for 23. He was ably supported by Writtick who bagged two for 26.
Skipper Avishek Porel played a lone hand for the Kolkata Tigers with a 26-ball 29-run innings while opening the innings. Sandeep Tomar provided some solidarity in the middle overs getting a 16-ball 22, but the lower order failed to put up a resistance.
Defending a low total, the Kolkata Tigers began well when pacer Ananta Saha got both the Malda openers – Jayojit Basu and Ranjot Singh Khaira back in the pavilion in the first over.
But Writtick and Writam Porel stood tall, stitching together an 82-run third-wicket stand that put the side on the road to victory. Although Porel departed for a well-made 42 off 44 balls, Writtick remained undefeated on 50 facing 41 deliveries and hitting six overs and one six as Malda got 109 for four in 16.3 overs.