Mohun Bagan Athletic Club have finally done what was due for their fans for the last seven years. Despite having star players in the last few seasons, they have cracked the code this time, reaching the C.A.B. First Division final on Sunday.
It was Ansutup Majumdar's gritty unbeaten 93 of 106 balls that helped the Green and Maroon brigade by six wickets at the J.U. Second campus ground in Kolkata. Mohun Bagan chased down Kalighat's 227-run target in just 65.2 overs to reach the final.
Vivek Singh's Spell Stunned Kalighat
After choosing to field first, Mohun Bagan’s disciplined bowling attack and clinical middle-order batting ensured a comfortable chase.
Kalighat Club’s innings struggled to find momentum early on as Mohun Bagan’s Vivek Singh dismantled their top and middle order. Singh was the wrecker-in-chief with the ball. He sent back Koushik Ghosh (31), captain Sayan Shekhar Mandal (6), and Subham Chatterjee for a duck in a 28-over spell that finished with figures of 4 for 76.
Aamir Gani supported with 2 for 33 as Kalighat's top and middle order crumbled.
The only resistance for Kalighat Club came from Vaibhav Yadav, who arrived at number eight and refused to go quietly. He struck 75 off 137 balls with eight boundaries and three sixes. Rahul Gupta (42) and Vikas (41) provided him with brief support. Yadav's lone stand pushed Kalighat to 276 all out in 88.4 overs.
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Majumdar and Singh Finish What They Started
The chase looked comfortable for Mohun Bagan until Vaibhav Yadav struck twice with the ball, reducing Mohun Bagan to 136 for 4 after half-centuries from Bengal skipper Abhimanyu Easwaran (73) and opener Abhishek Kumar Raman (51) had set a solid foundation.
That brought Majumdar to the crease, and Kalighat did not take another wicket.
The veteran batter compiled an unbeaten 93 off 106 balls, finding the boundary 11 times in an innings that combined patience with authority. Vivek Singh, having already done the damage with the ball, joined him and finished unbeaten on 59. The pair's unbroken partnership carried Mohun Bagan to 277 for 4 in 65.2 overs.
Town Club Beat Aryan to Enter Semis
The Town Club vs Aryan Club quarter-final, which was postponed due to Union Minister Amit Shah's arrival in Howrah, was played on 1st May.
After day 1 of the match was washed out due to rain, Town Club bowlers made the game their own on the second day.
Town Club won the toss and decided to field first to take the advantage of the pitch and conditions. Deepansh Chauhan's fiery 36/5 helped them bundle Aryan for 108. Rahul Prasad and Sujit Kumar Yadav also picked up two wickets each to support Chauhan.
Then a fiery 53 off 27 balls from opener Ankur Paul made a light case of the chase as Town Club chased down the target in 15.3 overs with 9 wickets in hand.
They will face Bhowanipore Club in the semis.