Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, returning from a one-match break after going wicketless against Gujarat, unpacked ‘main character’ energy from his suitcase to single-handedly dismantle the Railways top-order on Sunday after Sumanta Gupta got a century to help Bengal add 201 to its overnight score.
Anustup Majumdar and Sumanta went ninety to nothing in the first session of the second day of the fourth-round Ranji Trophy fixture in hopes of squeezing out as many runs as possible on a crumbling surface at the Lalbhai Contractor Stadium here.
Boundaries came aplenty during this phase of play in the Elite Group C clash, with Sumanta even going for lofty sixes. It is difficult to look past the short delivery from Adarsh Singh that was swivel-pulled into oblivion.
Anustup overstayed the welcome at his former home, but eventually fell on 135, slicing to Vivek Singh in the slip. Little did Zubair A. Khan, who had let out a roar in celebration then, know that his side’s troubles were far from over.
Bengal’s Sumanta Gupta was unforgiving on the Railways bowlers on day two of their Ranji Trophy match.
| Photo Credit:
FILE PHOTO: PTI
Not only did an unfazed Sumanta notch up triple digits for the first time in First-Class cricket, but Vishal Bhati and Rahul Prasad also made valuable contributions.
Bhati could become the subject of Karn Sharma’s nightmares after he launched the ace spinner over long-on in the 16th over of the day. The ball disappeared into the stands, and it took some searching before the game finally resumed.
The weight of Bengal’s first-innings score crushed Railways’ spirits. Jaiswal, Bengal’s highest wicket-taker in two consecutive seasons, sprinkled some salt on those wounds, handing pink slips to the top four inside the first six overs he bowled.
When spin was introduced from the South End in the 20th over, Shahbaz Ahmed didn’t take long to make an impact, dismissing Suraj Ahuja leg-before. As things stand, a follow-on looks imminent.
The scores: Bengal — 1st innings: Aditya Purohit c Upendra b Kunal 6, Sudip Kumar Gharami c Upendra b Adarsh 0, Shakir Habib Gandhi c Vivek b Kunal 28, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal lbw b Kunal 5, Anustup Majumdar c Vivek b Zubair 135, Shahbaz Ahmed c Ahuja b Karn 86, Sumanta Gupta c Upendra b Adarsh 120, Vishal Bhati c Upendra b Merai 36, Rahul Prasad (not out) 40, Mohammad Kaif c sub (Ayan) b Karn 6, Sumit Mohanta b Kunal 0; Extras (nb-4, lb-8): 12; Total (in 129.3 overs): 474.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-9, 3-27, 4-61, 5-195, 6-329, 7-404, 8-442, 9-467.
Railways bowling: Adarsh 29-7-89-2, Kunal 26.3-8-98-4, Zubair 16-4-71-1, Akash 26-3-84-0, Merai 6-0-23-1, Karn 24-5-89-2, Pratham 1-0-6-0, Saif 1-0-6-0.
Railways — 1st innings: Zubair A. Khan c Gharami b Jaiswal 0, Vivek Singh b Jaiswal 4, Pratham Singh c Shakir b Jaiswal 11, Mohammad Saif lbw b Jaiswal 0, Bhargav Merai (batting) 37, Suraj Ahuja lbw b Shahbaz 19, Upendra Yadav (batting) 20; Extras (w-2, b-4): 6; Total (for 5 wkts. in 38 overs): 97.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-7, 3-11, 4-16, 5-55.
Bengal bowling: Jaiswal 9-3-17-4, Mohanta 6-3-14-0, Kaif 9-2-26-0, Shahbaz 10-4-19-1, Bhati 3-0-15-0, Rahul 1-0-2-0.
Published – November 09, 2025 07:15 pm IST
