Ranji Trophy | Gritty Ashutosh denies Bengal first-innings honours

Chhattisgarh's Ashutosh Singh's half-century denies Bengal the first-innings lead in a rain-affected Ranji Trophy match.

Ashutosh Singh’s fine half-century enabled Chhattisgarh to deny Bengal the first-innings lead on the final day of the bad light-marred Ranji Trophy Group-B match at the Eden Gardens here on Monday. After play started an hour late due to poor light, Chhattisgarh, resuming at 27 for two, resisted the home bowlers to post 214 for six before the match ended in a draw.

As the first innings could not be completed, both teams got one point apiece in the match in which only 220 overs could be bowled over four days due to visibility issues. Even as the Bengal pacers tried every trick in the book, Chhattisgarh’s overnight batters Ashutosh and Jivesh Butte stayed firm to see off the first session.

The host tasted success in the first over of the middle session when Suraj Jaiswal had Butte caught behind. Butte formed a crucial 52-run stand with Ashutosh.A focused Ashutosh and Sanjeet Desai batted with determination to add 104 runs for the fourth wicket. More importantly, they played out nearly 46 overs and took the match well into the third session.

Ashutosh cut and drove well in his 240-ball 88. His knock, containing 10 hits to the fence, spoke a lot about his character and temperament. Part-time leg-spinner Shreyansh Ghosh had Desai lbw to break the partnership.

Without much support from his fellow bowlers and despite seeing two catches going down off his bowling, Jaiswal bowled a good line and length and got some purchase.

He worked hard to trap Ashutosh lbw and bowled Amandeep Khare with a beauty to achieve his career-best figures of four for 29 and give his team slim hope. However, with time running out and light fading fast, Bengal was not able to pick up three points.

The scores: Bengal — 1st innings: 381 for eight decl.