Kalighat, Mohun Bagan A.C., entered the semi-finals of the C.A.B. First Division Championship Play-off tournament after a dominating display on Day 3 of quarter-finals, after Bhowanipur Club had already reached the final four on Day 2. After Abhishek Raman and Subham Chatterjee’s centuries with the bat, it was the turn for the spinners to shine with the ball as Pradipta Pramanik and Vikash Singh took five-wicket hauls on flat pitches.
Mohun Bagan beat Kidderpore
At the Deshbandhu (Oval) Park Ground, Mohun Bagan Athletic Club secured a commanding 98-run victory over Kidderpore Sporting Club in their quarter-final encounter.
After opting to bat first, Mohun Bagan had posted a massive 458 runs, anchored by a sensational 187 from Abhishek Raman. Raman’s marathon innings, which featured 19 boundaries and three sixes, provided the backbone for the total despite a four-wicket haul from Kidderpore’s Saksham Sharma.
Kidderpore Sporting Club mounted a spirited fight in response, but Mohun Bagan's bowlers dismissed them for 360. Dev Lakra (83) and Arun Chaprana (72*) offered stiff resistance, but Pradipta Pramanik proved to be the difference-maker for Mohun Bagan, claiming six wickets for 117 runs to seal the win.
Read also: Bengal Ranji Team in Last Three Seasons: 13 opening combinations, 22 debutants and many more numbers
Bhowanipur dominate Barisha
The second quarter-final at the J.U. 2nd Campus Ground had already finished on Day 2 on Sunday as Bhowanipur Club wrapped up a clinical 157-run win against Barisha Sporting Club.
Bhowanipur set a challenging target by posting 376 in their first innings, fueled by Ritwik Roy Chowdhury’s 95 and a solid 68 from Abhisek Das. Ankit Mishra was the lone warrior for Barisha with the ball, picking up six wickets.
However, Barisha’s batting lineup faltered against Bhowanipur’s disciplined attack. Despite having a great batting lineup consisting of Sumanta Gupta, Karan Lal, and Chandrahas Dash, Bhowanipur bundled them on 219.
Vinay Chaudhary led the charge for last year’s joint winners, tearing through the middle order to finish with impressive figures of 5/48.
Kalighat thrash East Bengal en route to semis
In the third quarter-final at the Videocon Ground, Kalighat Club emerged victorious by 132 runs in a high-scoring battle against East Bengal Club.
Kalighat put up a formidable first-innings total of 538/9 with the help of a record-breaking partnership between Rahul Gupta, who scored 152, and Subham Chatterjee, who added 150.
Bengal U-23 captain Shashank Singh also contributed a vital 119 to the cause.
Despite a valiant 130 from wicket-keeper batter Agniv Pan and an 87-run effort from Sudip Gharami, East Bengal could only manage 406 in reply.
Vikas Singh spearheaded the Kalighat bowling effort with 5/131, ensuring his side maintained their dominance throughout the contest.