Sudip Kumar Gharami rubbed salt in the Andhra wounds as he batted the whole day on way to a double century as Bengal took a vice-like grip in their five-day quarterfinal match at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground in Kalyani on Sunday.
At stumps on the third day, Bengal were 418 for six. The hosts have leading by 123 runs with Sudip Kumar batting on 216 off 451 balls with 27 hits to the fence and giving him company was Shakir Habib Gandhi on 45 off 113 balls with three fours and a six.
Resuming at their overnight score of 199 for five with Sudip on 112 and Sumanta Gupta on 22, Bengal continued with their run-gathering exercise.
In 83 overs of play, Bengal lost just one wicket in the form of Sumanta Gupta who was caught by CR Gnaneshwar off Saurabh Kumar after the Bengal batter made 81 off 167 balls with nine fours and a six.
He had added 165 off 338 balls with Sudip for the sixth wicket. While Sumanta’s share was 81, Sudip Kumar contributed 73 off 171 balls.
Thereafter, there was no let up as the Andhra bowlers toiled hard but without any success. Sudip faced 260 balls on the third day as the Andhra bowlers seemed clueless on how to get him out.
Sudip and wicketkeeper Shakir have already added 100 for the seventh wicket off 247 balls and look good for a few more.
It looks like Bengal want to grind Andhra to the dust with their resolute batting. There were no frills and thrills on the day as the Bengal batters just went about their task of quietly getting the runs.
Brief scores: Andhra 295 vs Bengal 418 for six in 146 overs (Sudip Kumar Gharami 216 batting, Sumanta Gupta 81, Shakir Habib Gandhi 45 batting; K V Sasikanth2/59, Saurabh Kumar 2/81).
