KOLKATA:
Bengal
returned to winning ways with a five-wicket victory against Assam in a
Vijay Hazare Trophy
Elite Group 'C' match in Chennai on Friday.
However, Bengal's batsmen made heavy weather of a modest target after their bowlers had done well to skittle out Assam for 150 in 35.5 overs.
Kanishk Seth (21*) and
Shahbaz Ahmed
(23*) shared a 40-run unbeaten sixth-wicket stand to guide Bengal home in 25.4 overs.
Seth, coming in for Ishan Porel - who had to leave for Vadodara to represent Board President's XI in the tour game against the West Indies - drew first blood by removing Parvez Aziz (1) and Sibsankar Roy (8) in quick succession after skipper
Manoj Tiwary asked Assam to bat first. But it was left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik who emerged as wrecker-in, picking up four from 27 in 10 overs.
"This was my first match of the season and I wanted to give my best," Pramanik, who replaced Writtick Chatterjee in the XI, said. "I am satisfied with my performance, but I will look to continue performing in the upcoming matches too."
Openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Vivek Singh gave Bengal a flying start, putting on 48 in just six overs. But then wickets fell in a heap. Easwaran (18), Sudip Chatterjee (0) and Tiwary (12) were back in the hunt as Bengal were reduced to 67 for three.
Vivek, who replaced Shreevats Goswami, impressed during his run-a-ball 51 with four fours and four sixes. His dismissal was followed by the exit of Anushtup Majumdar (18), but Seth and Ahmed rose to the occasion to prevent any further mishap.
"Pradipta has a great future and can emerge as a bowling all-rounder for the team," skipper Tiwary stated. "Shahbaz also showed his batting skills under pressure. They give us depth in batting," he said.
Brief scores: Assam 150 in 38.5 overs (R Parag 32, Abu Nechim Ahmed 31*; Pradipta Pramanik 4-27) lost to Bengal 151/5 in 25.4 overs (Vivek Singh 51). Points: Bengal: 4, Assam: 0.
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