Vinoo Mankad Trophy: Vishal Bhati's 111 and Ankit Chatterjee's 92 help Bengal qualify for final after 11 years
Vishal Bhati's excellent 111 with bat and three wickets with the ball along with Ankit Chatterjee's 92 helped Bengal thrash Chattishgarh by 131 runs in the semi-finals of Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2024.
Bengal U-19 openers Vishal Bhati and Ankit Chatterjee powered them into the final of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy 2024 as they defeated Chhattisgarh by 131 runs. This is the first time since 2013 that Bengal had qualified for the semi-finals of the tournament and they made it memorable by entering the final as well. Bhati, who scored 111 in 117 balls and also took 22/3 with the ball in hand, was declared the player of the match.
Bengal had defeated a strong Maharsathra in the quarter-finals by 96 runs and Vishal Bhati was instrumental for Bengal with a 23/4 spell with the ball in hand.
In the semi-final, opener Ankit Chatterjee supported Bhati really well and it was their 190-run opening partnership that laid the cornerstone for Bengal's success. After Ankit's dismissal on 92 from 102 balls, Bhati was also dismissed 19 runs later after a stunning 111 from 117 balls. Bhati's inning included 8 fours and 5 sixes while Ankit hit 12 boundaries and one six.
Though Bengal collapsed like a house of cards after that, it was Agniswar Das, who played a quick knock of 42 from 33 balls to give them the momentum to finish on 285/8 in 50 overs.
Bengal opening ball bowlers Debangshu Pakhira and Yudhajit Guha struck early as Chhattisgarh lost two wickets within the first 7 runs. But, though they tried to build up a partnership with Alok Kumar Gupta and Sahil Shariff, the required run rate kept on going out of their reach.
It was Ashutosh Kumar and Vishal Bhait who tore apart the Chhattisgarh middle order with their incredible discipline. Ashutosh finished with 30/4 while Vishal finished with 22/3 as Chattishgarh were bundled out for 154.
"It was entirely a team effort. Every member stepped up when it was needed most. I am happy with the victory. Vishal played brilliantly, and Ankit and Ashutosh were superb. The way the team handled the pressure on a crucial semifinal match was outstanding," Bengal U-19 head coach Saurasish Lahiri said via a press release.
Bengal will now face Gujarat in the final on Sunday in Rajkot.
Scores
Bengal
#
Batters
R
B
SR
4's
6's
1
Vishal Bhati c Alok Kumar Gupta b Dhananjay Nayak
111
117
94.87
8
5
2
Ankit Chatterjee st Vivek Yadav b Vikalp Tiwari
92
102
90.20
12
1
3
Chandrahas Dash (c) c & b Vikalp Tiwari
11
25
44.00
0
0
4
Agniswar Das c Daksh Kumar Parakh b Ankit Kumar Singh
42
33
127.27
3
1
5
Irshad Alam run out (Pratham Jachak)
9
6
150.00
0
1
6
Jeet Thakur c Dhananjay Nayak b Ankit Kumar Singh
3
4
75.00
0
0
7
Ganoranjan Kapat c Sahil Rajat Shariff b Ankit Kumar Singh
3
6
50.00
0
0
8
Debangshu Pakhira c Pratham Jachak b Ankit Kumar Singh
2
4
50.00
0
0
9
Yudhajit Guha Not out
1
1
100.00
0
0
10
Ashutosh Kumar Not out
6
2
300.00
1
0
Total: 285/8 (50.0 Ov)
Chhattisgarh Batting
#
Batters
R
B
SR
4's
6's
1
Daksh Kumar Parakh c Vishal Bhati b Debangshu Pakhira
1
8
12.50
0
0
2
Upendra Kumar Yadav b Yudhajit Guha
0
2
0.00
0
0
3
Sahil Rajat Shariff c Ankit Chatterjee b Vishal Bhati
22
46
47.83
2
0
4
Alok Kumar Gupta lbw Jeet Thakur
41
60
68.33
4
0
5
Vikalp Tiwari c Irshad Alam b Ashutosh Kumar
27
40
67.50
1
1
6
Pratham Jachak b Ashutosh Kumar
41
49
83.67
5
1
7
Vivek Yadav (c)(Wk) st Abhiprai Biswas b Ashutosh Kumar
Exclusive: "Want to work with younger kids, find and create the next Sourav Ganguly," Abdul Monayem, after an illustrious 20-year club coaching career
After spending 20 years in club coaching, Abdul Monayem, Kolkata's one of the most successful club coaches, now wants to work with younger kids to find the next cricketing icon from West Bengal.
Abdul Monayem is a name that will go down in the history of Kolkata Club Cricket without any doubt. The former fast bowler joined Bhowanipur Club as a coach in 2009-10, when the team had just been promoted to the first division. Since then, he has helped them win three league titles along with multiple trophies.
Not only that, he helped East Bengal win the P.Sen trophy this season and qualify for the league final after nearly ten years.
Monayem retires from club coaching
Abdul Monayem with East Bengal chief Debabrata (Nitu) Sarkar. Image | Facebook
After spending 20 years in club cricket and emerging as one of the most successful club coaches, Abdul Monayem decided to retire from club coaching.
But why?
Monayem answered the reason, along with sharing his future goal, in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point, just one day after the announcement via a Facebook post.
"This is a very personal decision. Just woke up that morning and felt like I was not enjoying it anymore. So, decided to leave club coaching," Monayem answered when Sportz Point asked him about the reason for calling it a day at club level.
"Even after the last season for Bhowanipur, I was thinking about this. But two seasons back, Nitu (Debabrata) Sarkar invited me to take up the challenge to help the East Bengal cricket team become a winning side. So, I took up the challenge," he added.
Abdul Monayem won nearly every possible trophy for the Bhowanipur Cricket club, and when he joined East Bengal, the goal was to make them win trophies.
"When I joined East Bengal two seasons back, the team was already made. This season, I was able to make the team. We won the P.Sen trophy and will play the league final again. Very happy to get them back to winning ways," Monayem shared.
Will Monayem be there for East Bengal in the league final?
Abdul Monayem and East Bengal after winning the Kolkata Derby in league semis. Image | Facebook
Abdul Monayem will travel to France to attend his son's convocation and support him on this important day.
Along with players, coaches, and staff always miss the chance to be there for their families and with their son's one of the biggest days approaching, Monayem does not want to miss the chance to be there for him.
That is why he had already informed East Bengal that if they reach the final, he will not be there on the sidelines. East Bengal club also respected his decision and accepted the letter from Monayem.
"I will be visiting France for my son's convocation. My wife and I will both be there. I have missed a lot of things for cricket and coaching. I did not want to miss this."
So, I had sent a letter to East Bengal earlier that if we reach the final, I will not be there for the team. East Bengal also respected my decision and accepted the letter," Monayem shared.
Abdul Monayem with East Bengal team after winning the P. Sen trophy. Image | Facebook
Throughout his coaching career, Abdul Monayem not only won trophies for his club but also developed players who can contribute to Bengal cricket in the long run. He has helped several accomplished players return to the Bengal team.
Shib Shankar Paul, Saurasish Lahiri, and Arnab Nandi are just a few of the names who managed to return to the Bengal Ranji team after excelling under Monayem at Bhowanipur Club.
Players like Ravikant Singh, Sumit Mohanta, Sourav Paul, and Agniv Pan made their first-class debuts for Bengal after playing under Monayem.
"Before signing any player, I used to ask them if they only had a dream of playing the Ranji trophy for Bengal, then sign for my club," Monayem answered.
Monayem, who loves to read and write about cricket and coaching, follows the great P.K. Banerjee's style of coaching, where he tries to develop a one-on-one connection with players more than anything else.
As per Monayem, knowing the pulse of the players and then instilling faith in them is the main thing of coaching. If any coach can do that, they will win half the battle.
Since the beginning of Sportz Point, multiple Bengal cricketers have mentioned Abdul Monayem in their interviews, and more than winning any trophies, Monayem feels this is his biggest achievement in his coaching career.
"I did not become a coach to earn money. I did not do this for money," Abdul Monayem expressed.
"I became a coach to stay in touch with them. Chitrak Mitra, the former BCCI vice-president, gave me the responsibility at that time and told me that I was good enough to be a coach."
"Since then, my only goal has been to create valuable cricketers and give Bengal a few cricketing stars."
"I have only one regret from club cricket"
Despite all the success, Abdul Monayem has only one regret within himself. He wished to give Bengal cricket an iconic cricketer like Sourav Ganguly, but he feels he failed to do so.
Monayem, who gave Abishek Porel his first break in the first division cricket and told him that he bats like Brian Lara, believes Porel can be the next big star from Bengal. But, after all of these years, Monayem knows that to find and create the next Sourav Ganguly, he will have to go back to the roots and scout talent from the U-13 level.
Taking the reference of Mumbai cricket, Monayem said, "You saw how they have stands named after so many players. They keep on creating iconic players season after season. I believe in Bengal we can also do that, given we have the system and infrastructure."
This is why Monayem now wants to scout and find young talents for Bengal, only if the Cricket Association of Bengal finds him worthy enough for that role.
"I want to scout and work with young kids to find and make the next Sourav Ganguly"
Monayem with Rahul Prasad and other kids at A.S.O.S Image | Facebook
At A.S.O.S, Monayem trains 30 kids for free so that Bengal cricket's next generation is in safe hands. Players like Rahul Prasad have emerged from Monayem's A.S.O.S camps.
"If you want to have iconic players like Sourav Ganguly, who inspired multiple generations of Bengal cricketers, you will have to find them young and make them believe they can rule Indian cricket. I want to do that work for Bengal, if C.A.B. feels I am good enough for that job," Monayem stated.
Emphasising icons like Sourav Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami's roles in Bengal cricket, Monayem added, "Only if we can have global icons like them from Bengal, then only we will be able to secure Bengal cricket's future."
Abdul Monayem's club coaching career
High Court Club (2004-05 to 2005-06)
Marked the start of coaching career after a 20-year playing career.
Opportunity provided by Pankaj Mallick and Binay Mishra.
Coached under captain Rajiv Dutta (now an NCA Coach).
Key players: Sourav Sil, Bunty Gowala.
Focused on building a strong team dynamic, laying the foundation for coaching philosophy.
Mohun Bagan (2006-07 to 2007-08)
Joined through Dipankar Hazra and Anjan Mitra.
Seasons led by captains Palash Bhowmick, Utpal Chatterjee (2006-07), and Manoj Tiwary (2007-08).
Bengal Cricket: Aryan Club Clinch CAB Women's One-Day Title with Dominant 47-Run Win
Tanusree Sarkar's attacking 76 from 50 balls and Priyanka Bala's unbeaten 45 helped Aryan Club win the CAB Women's One-Day Title by 47 runs against Mohun Bagan A.C.
Aryan Club (Women's) delivered a commanding performance to secure the C.A.B. Women's Club Cricket League (One-Day) Tournament 2024-2025 title, defeating Mohun Bagan A.C. (Women) by 47 runs in a thrilling final at the 22-Yards SP School Ground.
Powered by a blazing knock from captain Tanusree Sarkar and a disciplined bowling effort, Aryan Club showcased their dominance in a match that had fans buzzing with excitement.
Tanusree Sarkar scored an attacking 76 off 50 balls. Image | C.A.B.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Aryan Club got off to a steady start with opener Dyuti Paul (23 off 23) and Sujata Dey taking the score to 28 for the first wicket.
However, it was captain Tanusree Sarkar who stole the show with a scintillating 76 off 50 balls, smashing 10 fours and a six at a strike rate of 152. Her aggressive strokeplay set the tone for Aryan’s innings.
Priyanka Bala’s unbeaten 45 provided the perfect foil, anchoring the latter half with composure, while Jhumia Khatun chipped in with a quickfire 18. Despite Diya Nandi’s 2/38 for Mohun Bagan, Aryan Club posted a formidable 171/4 in their 25 overs, setting a challenging target.
Sritama Nandi was the star with the ball with her 4/29 | Image - C.A.B.
Chasing 172, Mohun Bagan A.C. (Women) got off to a rocky start, losing Sneha Gupta (3) in the second over to Susmita Ganguly.
Captain Ankita Chakraborty led the fightback with a resolute 46, partnering with Diya Nandi (32) for a crucial 71-run stand. However, Aryan’s bowlers struck back with precision.
Sinjini Sarkar (2/28) removed both set batters in quick succession, triggering a collapse. Tanusree Sarkar (1/22) and Sritama Nandi (4/29) ran through the middle order, with Nandi’s sensational spell dismantling Mohun Bagan’s hopes.
Dipa Das (29) and Puja Rajak (13) showed fight, but Jhumia Khatun’s late wickets, including a stumping, sealed Mohun Bagan’s fate at 128 all out in 25 overs.
Bengal Cricket: Bhowanipur Club Snatch Thrilling 5-Run Victory in First Division One-Day Final
With 19 runs off the final five overs with two wickets in hand, East Railways fell short by 5 runs despite a great fight. Bhowanipur clinched the C.A.B. First Division One-Day trophy for consecutive seasons.
In a nail-biting finale to the C.A.B. First Division (Senior Knock-Out) One Day Tournament 2024-2025, the defending champion Bhowanipur Club edged out E. Rly. Sports Association by a mere 5 runs in a 50-over thriller at the J.U. 2nd Campus Ground.
Easwaran played a steady knock of 57 for Bhowanipur. Image | C.A.B.
Opting to field after winning the toss, E. Rly. Sports Association struck early, with Nikhil Singh dismissing Bhowanipur’s opener Jayojit Basu for 7 in just the second over.
However, a gritty 57 from captainAbhimanyu Easwaran steadied the ship, anchoring the innings with a composed knock. Aamir Gani’s classy 65, laced with five boundaries, and Vivek Singh’s explosive 58, featuring six fours and two sixes, propelled Bhowanipur to a competitive total.
Despite regular wickets, including a fiery spell from Tanmoy Pramanick (2/32) and Saiket Das (2/36), Bhowanipur managed to post 207 all out in 49.5 overs, thanks to a late flourish from Rajkumar Pal (26) and Ravi Kumar (18*).
Ravi Singh played a crucial knock for Eastern Railway. Image | C.A.B.
Chasing 208, E. Rly. Sports Association’s innings was anchored by a sensational 96 from Ravi Singh, who smashed six fours and two sixes in a match-defining knock.
Arijit Basu’s steady 44 provided early stability, but Bhowanipur’s bowlers kept the pressure on.
Ravi Kumar (2/40) removed opener Shivam Gautam early, while Aamir Gani’s spin accounted for Basu. The middle order struggled, with Jesal Karia (3/35) and Rajkumar Pal (3/25) wreaking havoc, dismissing key batsmen like Deepanshu Chaudhary and Priyam Sarkar.
As the chase reached its climax, E. Rly. needed 19 runs off the final five overswith two wickets in hand. Nikhil Singh (29*) and Swapnil Choudhary (30) fought valiantly, but a sharp run-out by Rajkumar Pal and a final blow from Ravi Kumar, who trapped Wazid Hussain lbw, sealed the deal. E. Rly. finished agonizingly short at 202 all out in 49.1 overs.
Aamir Gani was adjudged the player of the match for his all-round brilliance.
C.A.B. postpones Bengal Pro T20 League 2025 amid rising tension between India and Pakistan
The Cricket Association of Bengal (C.A.B.) has postponed the second season of the Bengal Pro T20 League due to rising tension between India and Pakistan.
The Cricket Association of Bengal (C.A.B.) has postponed the second season of the Bengal Pro T20 League due to rising tension between India and Pakistan.
The women's tournament was about to start on May 16 in Birbhum, while the men's tournament was set to kick off from June 4 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
In an official press release, the C.A.B. stated, "Considering the prevailing national circumstances, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has decided to postpone the start of Bengal Pro T20 League Season 2 and thus all pre-events related with it, until further notice. A revised schedule, including updated venues and fixtures, will be shared after a detailed review of the situation in coordination with relevant authorities and stakeholders and any advisory as issued by the BCCI."
"In these testing times, the Cricket Association of Bengal stands in full solidarity with the nation. We wholeheartedly support the efforts of the Government of India and salute the courage and dedication of our armed forces, whose unwavering service under Operation Sindoor is a source of pride and inspiration for all Indians."
"Cricket has always united us, but in moments like these, we are reminded that our foremost duty is to the country. The CAB remains deeply committed to the principles of national unity and security, and every step we take will reflect that commitment."
"We are grateful to all the stakeholders of the League for standing by us and for their shared resolve to prioritise national interest over everything else."
Exclusive: "I would love to see more sixes, more runs," Shreevats Goswami wants bigger scores in Bengal Pro T20 League 2025
Shreevats Goswami, the former Bengal and IPL cricketer, would love to see more sixes and bigger scores in Bengal Pro T20 League 2025 to attract more fans and IPL scouts.
The second season of the Bengal Pro T20 League is set to commence on May 16, starting with the women's tournament, while the men's tournament will begin on June 4. Although the first season was relatively successful, the fans were somewhat disappointed by the limited runs scored by the batters. Shreevats Gowasmi, a former Bengal and IPL cricketer, hopes to see more runs this season to attract both scouts and fans.
Goswami, a 2008 ICC U-19 World Cup winner and the recipient of the 2008 IPL Emerging Player of the Year award, shared his insights in an exclusive interview with Sportz Point.
"Youngsters should focus on performing in state tournaments like BPT20L
Sudip Gharami (left) and Mukesh Kumar with the Bengal Pro T20 League trophy before the final last season. Image | Facebook
The former left-handed top-order batter, who is a commentator and cricket analyst now, emphasised the significance of local state leagues in a recent Instagram post, highlighting the necessity for players to focus on these leagues before aspiring for larger platforms like the Indian Premier League.
"I.P.L. teams are always on the lookout for unknown talents who can surprise opponents. Players like Priyansh Arya, Aniket Verma, Vignesh Puthur, and Digvesh Rathi were relatively unknown before entering the I.P.L. All of them made a significant impact in their first few games. This is what teams are currently seeking," Goswami told Sportz Point.
"Since I.P.L. teams now send scouts to observe performances in state T20 leagues, there's always a possibility of getting noticed through these leagues. Thus, players must concentrate on delivering strong performances in tournaments like the Bengal Pro T20 League," he added.
In addition to providing a platform for players, Goswami believes these leagues can also benefit the states by helping identify the next generation of cricketers.
"With these leagues comprising 5-7 franchise teams, they offer a pool of players to evaluate. This also aids states in discovering their next wave of talent. So, it works well for both young players and the states," Goswami expressed.
Read Also | Exclusive: Bowls like Malinga, once doubted by her family, Nadia's Sonali Das is set for Bengal Pro T20 League dreams after an 8-wicket haul in School Cricket
"I would love to see more sixes and bigger scores"
Anustup Majumdar playing a cover drive during Bengal Pro T20 League 2024.
To attract fans and impress scouts in a T20 format, significant scores and exhilarating last-ball finishes are crucial. These elements highlight the skills of the batters while challenging bowlers in high-pressure situations similar to those encountered in the I.P.L.
For example, Priyansh Arya made headlines in the Delhi Premier League by hitting six sixes in an over during his knock of 120 runs off 50 balls. Ashwani Kumar bowled six yorkers in an over in the Sher E Punjab T20 Trophy in 2024.
"The only thing I want to see this season in the Bengal Pro T20 League is big sixes and bigger scores. More scores in the range of 180-200, or even greater, will challenge the batters to aim for large hits during chases, while also providing opportunities for bowlers to excel in demanding conditions," Goswami stated.
"However, given all the I.P.L. matches and club games throughout the season, it may be challenging to secure batting-friendly pitches. Nevertheless, I am confident that the C.A.B. will make an effort to prepare batting-friendly wickets this season," he added.
Virat Kohli practising in an open net for RCB. Image | RCB
To achieve high scores and experience impactful performances, Bengal's highest run scorer of Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy feels that batters need to adopt a more fearless approach. As one of Bengal's greatest white-ball batters, he advises players to engage in open net sessions to enhance their hitting skills.
"I would recommend that young batters spend more time in open nets. See if you can clear the boundaries or not. Aim to hit 100 sixes every day from the centre of the ground. This will help them understand their abilities and better prepare for matches," Goswami shared.
Using the example of a talented 14-year-old, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Shreevats noted, "Look at someone like Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Even at such a young age, his hitting ability rivals that of anyone in the I.P.L. How does he achieve that? First, he has a fearless mindset, and second, he practices hitting big sixes."
"Developing the habit of hitting sixes is essential for success in leagues like the Bengal Pro T20 League."
Shreevats Goswami with other Bengal players pictured after their triumph in VHT 2012.
The last time Bengal won a white-ball tournament was in 2012 when they lifted the Vijay Hazare Trophy, with Shreevats as the opener for the team. Since then, they have struggled to achieve similar success in white-ball cricket. While they have reached a few finals in red-ball formats, their white-ball accomplishments have been elusive.
Shreevats believes that to thrive in the white-ball format or T20 cricket, players must engage in more T20-specific practices. Additionally, he feels that academies should provide grounds that allow for more open net sessions.
"It is quite basic. Batters need to participate in more T20-focused practices. For that, access to open nets at training academies would greatly benefit the players."
Shreevats, who became a cricketing star even before turning 18, believes that to cultivate more white-ball talents at a young age, guardians need to place greater trust in coaches and allow them to develop the children. Additionally, coaches should engage with the kids to understand their aspirations and then guide them accordingly.
“To develop any cricketer, guardians need to have more confidence in the coach's abilities, and coaches should ask the kids what they want to achieve. After understanding their goals, coaches can guide them in the right direction,” Goswami shared.