Ranji Trophy 2021-22 | Madhya Pradesh thump Bengal, book first Ranji final since 1999

Madhya Pradesh, on the brink of a historic win, had restricted the Bengal batsmen to 96-4 at the end of Day 4 in pursuit of a 350-run target. On the final day, 37 overs was all it took for the Aditya Shrivastava-led side to dismiss the Bengal batsmen, thus scripting a 174-run win in the first Ranji Trophy 2021-22 semi-final.

With the win, the perennial underachievers also booked a slot for the final where they will now face Ranji giants Mumbai between June 22 and 26 in Bengaluru. Notably, the upcoming title clash will also mark Madhya Pradesh’ first Ranji Trophy final appearance since the 1999 edition of the tournament.

1st semi-final: Madhya Pradesh’s dominant Day 5 recapped

Bengal began Day 5, requiring another 254 runs to win with only six wickets waiting in the shed. Captain Abhimanyu Easwaran extended his overnight score (52*) to 78 before falling prey to MP’s Kumar Kartikeya, who picked up 5-67 while toiling away for 32 overs.

First innings centurion Shahbaz Ahmed charted the next best score with a mere 22*. Despite Ahmed’s ton and eight-wicket match-haul, MP’s Himanshu Mantri won the Player of the Match award for scores of 165 and 21.

Brief scores:

Madhya Pradesh: 341 (105.3)

Himanshu Mantri 165, Akshat Raghuwanshi 63;

Mukesh Kumar 4-66, Shahbaz Ahmed 3-86

Bengal: 273 (89.2)

Shahbaz Ahmed 116, Manoj Tiwary 102;

Puneet Datey 3-48, Kumar Kartikeya 3-61 

Madhya Pradesh: 281 (114.2)

Aditya Shrivastava 82, Rajat Patidar 79;

Shahbaz Ahmed 5-79, Pradipta Pramanik 4-65

Bengal: 175 (65.2)

Abhimanyu Easwaran 78, Shahbaz Ahmed 22*;

Kumar Kartikeya 5-67, Gaurav Yadav 3-19

Madhya Pradesh win by 174 runs.