Town Club advanced to the final of the C.A.B. First Division Championship Play-off Tournament after a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Bhowanipur Club at the 22 Yards ground. In a semi-final clash heavily influenced by playing conditions, Town Club successfully navigated a tricky chase under the VJD method to secure their spot in the title decider.
Subham Sarkar was the hero for Town Club
Town Club’s decision to bowl first proved masterly as their attack immediately put Bhowanipur Club on the back foot. Bhowanipur struggled to sustain any momentum on a surface that offered assistance to the disciplined Town bowlers.
They were eventually bundled out for a modest 172 in 57.1 overs, with the top order failing to convert starts into substantial scores. Anurag Tiwari fought a lone battle with a patient 37 off 86 balls, while Geet Puri (32) and Prayas Ray Barman (31) provided some middle-order resistance.
However, the lack of a big partnership meant Bhowanipur never possessed enough runs to truly dictate terms.
Subham Sarkar was the chief architect of Bhowanipur’s downfall, delivering a clinical spell of seam bowling. Sarkar finished with figures of 3 for 24 in 13 overs, maintaining an exceptional economy rate of 1.85.
His ability to hit the right channels consistently made scoring difficult and forced errors from the Bhowanipur batters. He was well-supported by a cohesive bowling unit that kept the pressure high throughout the first innings, ensuring the target remained within reach despite the high stakes of a semi-final.
Read also: Where Are They Now: Last Time Bengal Men's Cricket Team Won A Trophy.
Tricky chase for Town Club
The chase was far from a formality as external factors forced the match to be reduced to 55 overs, with the target adjusted via the VJD method.
Town Club faced a nervy pursuit but remained focused on the revised requirements.
Ankur Paul provided a steady presence at the top with 22 runs, while Ankit Shukla chipped in with 20 to keep the scoreboard ticking. Though Town Club lost five wickets in the process, they stayed ahead of the curve, reaching 75 for 5 in 24.5 overs when the match was concluded in their favour.
Vinay Chaudhary was the standout performer for Bhowanipur with the ball, returning figures of 2 for 14 in 9 overs. His spell threatened to derail the Town Club chase, but the target proved too slim for Bhowanipur to pull off a miraculous comeback.
They will now face the challenge of a high-stakes final against Mohun Bagan.
