Lucknow: A superb century by top-order batter Priyam Garg enabled Uttar Pradesh (UP) to eke out a draw in their clash against Bengal in the new Ranji Trophy season in their Elite Group C tie at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee Ekana International Cricket Stadium.
Priyam Garg’s remarkable unbeaten 105 off 157 balls, featuring eight boundaries and five towering sixes, was the highlight of the match. His third century at the Ekana Stadium came at a critical juncture, when UP was under pressure and staring at the possibility of defeat. Garg, with immense determination and resilience, managed to lead his team to 162/6 in 51 overs by the end of the match, allowing UP to secure a hard-fought draw.
The second innings began on a shaky note for Uttar Pradesh, who had played just two overs in the first session. They lost their first wicket in the third over after lunch, when skipper Aryan Juyal was trapped lbw by Bengal pacer Mukesh Kumar for five. Bengal struck again quickly, with opener Swastik Chikara caught and bowled by Mohammed Kaif for 12 in the 11th over, leaving UP struggling at 2/31.
The middle order crumbled under Bengal’s disciplined bowling attack. Siddhartha Yadav (8), Nitish Rana (7), Akashdeep (6), and Saurabh Kumar (6) all fell cheaply, leaving UP in a precarious position. However, Garg stood firm at one end, batting with grit and purpose to steady the ship. His innings was a masterclass in how to handle pressure, as he took calculated risks, especially against Bengal’s slower bowlers, to ensure his team avoided a collapse.
Bengal’s bowlers, particularly Mukesh Kumar and Mohammed Kaif, were relentless. They picked up two wickets each in the second innings, while slow left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed added another scalp to his tally. Despite their best efforts, Bengal could not bowl out UP, and the match ended in a draw.
Earlier, Bengal’s top-order batter Abhimanyu Easwaran had played a key role in setting up his team’s commanding position. Easwaran completed a sublime century, scoring an unbeaten 127 off 172 balls, laced with 12 boundaries. His composed innings helped Bengal declare their second innings at 254/3, with a healthy lead of 273 runs.
He was well-supported by Sudip Chatterjee, who played a gritty knock of 93, falling just seven runs short of a well-deserved century. Chatterjee and Easwaran built a formidable partnership of 212 runs.
Abhishek Porel fell for a duck, caught off the bowling of leg-spinner Vipraj Nigam. Vipraj was the pick of UP’s bowlers in the second innings, claiming two wickets.
Reflecting on the match, UP skipper Aryan Juyal acknowledged the ebb and flow of the game. ” In the third session, the way we made a comeback brought us back into the match. On the second day, we completely dominated. On the third day, they came back again, and that’s how cricket is, with its ups and downs,” Juyal said.
In the end, both teams settled for a draw, with Bengal walking away with three points and Uttar Pradesh with one. For Priyam Garg, it was another memorable performance at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee Ekana International Cricket Stadium, and for Bengal, Abhimanyu Easwaran’s classy century reinforced his credentials as one of India’s most promising batting talents.
