Ranji 2015: Pragyan Ojha spins Bengal to season’s first win

Ojha got into the act as he produced a beauty to dismiss the Vidarbha captain.

The victory was achieved in fading lights — Bengal’s first outright win in Ranji Trophy after 13 matches. Ravikumar Thakur nicked Veer Pratap Singh down the leg, and keeper Shreevats Goswami dived full-length to take a smart catch.

Sudip Chatterjee’s excellent 116 in the first innings had set up this success, but Pragyan Ojha proved to be the difference between the two sides. After a first-class career best 7/58 in the first innings, the left-arm spinner took 4/60 at the second to rattle Vidarbha.

The pitch at the Jadavpur University’s Salt Lake Campus ground provided turn as the game progressed. But it needed a bowler of Ojha’s ability to get the most out of it.

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The visitors came into the final day needing 294 more runs to win with 10 wickets in hand. They were all out for 191, losing by 105 runs. Veer Pratap Singh gave the early breakthroughs, accounting for Vidarbha openers Wasim Jaffer and Faiz Fazal. But a 67-run third wicket partnership between Ganesh Satish and S Badrinath negated the advantage.

It was time for Ojha to get into the act and he produced a beauty to dismiss the Vidarbha captain. The ball turned and jumped and took the outside edge to the keeper. Ojha then breached Shalabh Shrivastava’s defence in his next over. Ashok Dinda removed Shrikant Wagh and Bengal had victory in sight.

They inched closer after lunch, when Manoj Tiwary got rid of Amol Ubarhande. But Aditya Sarwate dug in. Satish was playing very well at the other end and together they started to build a partnership. Bengal were getting restless.

In a desperate attempt, Tiwary turned to part-time off-spinner Pankaj Shaw and he struck with his first ball. Sarwate attempted a slog-sweep to a straight delivery and was caught plumb in front. It was a poor shot under the circumstances.

Ojha pounced on the opening and dismissed Akshay Wakhare. Satish went close on his heels, beaten by an arm ball. He missed his ton by four runs but more importantly, it was the end of Vidarbha’s resistance.

The victory helped Bengal move up to fourth in the table with 16 points from five matches, behind Assam on net runrate. Delhi lead the table with 24.

Chandila fined

Bengal batsman Pramod Chandila has been fined 10 per cent of his match fee for showing dissent after being given out caught behind off Wakhare in the first innings.

Brief scores: Bengal 334 & 164 in 62.5 ovs (Manoj Tiwary 63; A Wakhare 5/22) beat Vidarbha 202 in 69.1 ovs (F Fazal 63, S Wagh 60 n.o.; P Ojha 7/58) & 191 in 91.1 ovs (G Satish 96, S Badrinath 31, A Sarvate 24; P Ojha 4/60, V Singh 3/23) by 105 runs. Points: Bengal 6, Vidarbha 0