Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023/24: Easwaran's century and Pradipta's all-round performance help Bengal defeat Baroda by 95 runs

Bengal defeated a strong Baroda team in Vijaya Hazare Trophy 2023/24 by 95 runs at Cricket Club of India in Mumbai on Saturday.

Batting first Bengal put up a huge total of 314/8, all thanks to a brilliant 9th List-A century from their opener Abhimanyu Easwaran. Along with Easwaran's 141 from 138 balls, it was young wicketkeeper batter Abishek Porel who smashed a 65-ball 59 to give Bengal a solid start at the top of the order.

Althoug post Porel's dismissal, captain Sudip Gharami failed to contribute that many with the bat, experienced Anustup Majumdar's 41 from 47 again out Bengal back on track. However, it was Pradipta Pramanik's unbeaten 35 from just 14 balls helped Bengal cross the 300 mark and eventually finish on 314/8 in the first inning.

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In the second inning, Mohammad Kaif and Akash Deep struck early as Baroda's scoreboard looked 10/2 after 5.1 overs.

Post those wickets, Mitesh Patel and Sakshwat Rawat tried to pull things back for Baroda. Rawat scored a well-made 59 from 65 balls but Pradipta Pramanik found to be too good for even a set Rawat. Post his dismissal, none of Baroda batters could score big to challenge the big score pit by Bengal.

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Eventually they were bowled out for 219 in 44.2 overs. Pradipta Pramanik (3/46) and Karan Lal (3/43) finished with three wickets each for Bengal.

Score summary:

Bengal 314/8 (Easwaran 141, Porel 59)

Baroda 219/10 (Rawat 59, Lal 3/43)

After two back-to-back wins now, Bengal are at second position in Group E points table, after Madhya Pradesh.

Bengal will next face Tamil Nadu in their third game of Vijaya Hazare Trophy 2023/24 on 27th November at CCI, Mumbai.