Ranji Trophy: Bengal in semis with big win over Andhra

KALYANI: Bengal thumped Andhra by an innings and 90 runs in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals at the Bengal Cricket Academy (BCA) ground here on Tuesday to complete the last-four lineup.

The Abhimanyu Easwaran-led side will now play Jammu and Kashmir at the same venue from Sunday, while Karnataka will face Uttarakhand in the other semifinal in Lucknow.



Bengal, already assured of semifinal berth by virtue of taking the first-innings lead, decided to settle for no less as they bowled out Andhra for 244 to wrap up things half-anhour before the tea interval on the fifth day.

Bengal last played the Ranji semifinals in the 2022-23 season.

Former India middle-order batter Nitish Kumar Reddy played a lone hand, scoring 90 as Andhra lost four wickets in the first session and two after the lunch interval. The injured KS Bharat did not bat.

Resuming at overnight 64 for three, Andhra lost three wickets in consecutive overs to cave in early, with Shahbaz Ahmed acting as the destroyer in chief, claiming four for 72. Easwaran said, “Not everyone will have a good day. But when you play as a team, the ones who click will carry the side on their shoulders.”

Brief scores: Andhra Pradesh 295 & 244 (Nitish Kumar Reddy 90, Ricky Bhui 30; Shahbaz Ahmed 4-72, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal 2-42) lost to Bengal 629 by an innings and 90 runs.

Semifinals: Feb 15

Bengal vs J&K in Kalyani Karnataka vs Uttarakhand in Lucknow


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