In a lopsided Ranji Trophy quarterfinal at Bengal Cricket Academy Ground, Bengal has Andhra on the ropes. The hosts piled up 629 in their first innings after bundling out the visitors for 295, setting up a 334-run lead that looms large.
Day four ended with Andhra wobbling at 64 for 3, trailing by 270 runs. A follow-on seems inevitable, and Bengal needs just wickets to clinch an innings defeat and storm into the semifinals.
Andhra’s first innings batting faltered despite Bhui’s gritty 83, Bharat’s 47, and Rashid’s 46. Bengal’s pace attack was lethal: Mukesh Kumar’s 5/??, Akash Deep’s 4, and Shami’s one strike dismantled them.
Turning to bat, Bengal unleashed carnage. Gharami’s near-triple century (299) demolished the bowling, Habib’s 95 and Gupta’s 81 swelled the total, with Shami’s 53 adding gloss. Rashid snared 4 wickets, but it wasn’t enough.
Andhra’s second attempt began poorly: Gyaneswar (20), Reddy (5), Rashid (8) back in the hut, Bhui unbeaten on 18. The pitch at Kalyani favors Bengal’s seamers early on day five.
The stakes are high—the victor faces Jammu & Kashmir in the semis starting February 15, following J&K’s upset win over Madhya Pradesh. This match highlights Bengal’s resurgence in red-ball cricket.