Mohammed Shami’s exceptional last-day spell helped Bengal beat Gujarat for the first time in the Ranji Trophy since 2003. A red-hot Shami took five wickets on the last day of the second-round match of the tournament to rescue the Bengal side from a dangerous position.
At one point it looked like Bengal had messed up massively after being declared at 214/8 in their second innings. With 326 runs to defend, Bengal seemed to have lost their way at the start of Day 3 as Urvil and Jaymeet Patel held the innings together and added 100 runs between them.
Urvil, who had reached a hundred, looked supreme. The Bengal bowlers failed to trouble him in the first over as Gujarat slowly started ticking runs off the scoreboard.
The Bengals players and management looked embarrassed and appeared to have given up the full six points. They appeared to settle for a draw and three points based on their first innings lead.
The heat and humidity give Bengal a lucky break
Just as Bengal gave up, they got lucky due to the massive spasm Urvil suffered in his left hand. The cramp in the horrendously humid Eden Gardens conditions was so bad that the keeper-batsman had to leave the field injured.
Urvil’s momentary exit gave Bengal an opportunity to attack the new batter at the crease. Spinner Shahbaz Ahmed, who picked up six wickets in the first innings, was on the money immediately. Shahbaz dismissed Umang Kumar and Chintan Gaja in the space of six balls to put Gujarat in a heap of trouble.
Gujarat’s slump continued after Mohammed Shami returned to the bowling in the second half of the game. Buoyed by two back-to-back wickets, Bengal had their tails up, leading to another wicket – Vishal Jayswal, who was bowled by Shami through the wicket.
These three wickets forced the struggling Urvil Patel back into the crease but he was unable to save Gujarat from a quick collapse.
From 153/3 in the 35th over, Gujarat were bowled out for just 185 runs in the next 10 overs.
Shami was the star of the show with five wickets in the final innings of the match, taking his tally to eight wickets in the game. This means that Shami now has 15 wickets from two matches in the Ranji Trophy so far.
Bengal continued their unbeaten run in the Ranji Trophy, beating Uttarakhand and Gujarat in their first two matches at home. The side will next face Tripura on November 1.
– The end
Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
October 28, 2025
