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The game was hanging in the balance despite a fantastic finish to Day 2 by the hosts, Tripura, against mighty Bengal in the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Elite Group C clash at Maharaja Bir Bikram Stadium in Agartala. But, on the final day of the match, Tripura made sure they would earn their first point of the season - that too, three against a star-studded Bengal lineup.
Equation before the start on Day 4
The equation before the start of Day 4 was that Bengal would need 3 wickets for three points while Tripura required 63 runs to earn the same. For Bengal, it was Mohammed Shami and the new ball, while for Tripura, it was the partnership between captain Manisankar Murasingh and Hanuma Vihari, which was supposed to decide the match.
No swing with the new ball for Bengal
As planned, Bengal took the new ball in the third over of the day after Shami and Ishan Porel warmed up with one over each with the older ball. However, there was not much effect with the brand-new ball.
While everyone expected Shami to run through the tail, it was Manisankar Murasingh who got some quick early runs to take the target below fifty for Tripura, and reached his fifty too. The new ball did not swing or seam, which was of no help to the Bengal bowlers.
Shami changed angles, but was not able to challenge both the batters and create any chance for Bengal. Soon, Bengal’s most successful bowler in this match, Mohammed Kaif, replaced Ishan Porel from the City End, and he leaked some boundaries, which did not help the cause either.
However, Shami was replaced by Ishan Porel, from the Pavilion End, and that resulted in a dismissal for Bengal. Hanuma Vihari, who was earlier dropped off Ishan Porel when the batter was on 53 on Day 3, was able to hit him in front of the wicket and get the desired result from the umpire.
Tension rose at the ground, and for everyone following the match, with the new equation being 21 needed for Tripura and 2 wickets needed for Bengal. A few hundred present at the ground along with some U-19 Tripura cricketers gave Hanuma Vihari a standing ovation for his 141, his first big knock for Tripura.
Rana Dutta’s heroics at No. 10
Even though Tripura lost the previous two games and batters did not do well, the murmur in the gallery was that both Rana Dutta and Abhijit Sarkar can also bat, which meant Tripura nearly have 11 batters in the team.
Although Abhijit was supposed to come at No.10, captain Murasingh wanted Rana Dutta, as he wanted two lefties in the middle since neither Ishan Porel nor Mohammed Kaif was able to bring the ball back into the lefties.
Bengal’s plan to keep the field open for Murasingh helped him get some easy singles while Rana looked comfortable even against Mohammed Shami, who returned for his 8th spell of the inning. Shami tested the pacer with some bouncers, which he negotiated very well.
Desperate Bengal tried their final weapon as they brought off-spinner Rahul Prasad with Tripura needed 9 runs to earn three points. Rana Dutta took the first single, and then Murasingh hit back-to-back boundaries to give them the lead. A roar from the all-rounder and a cheer from the dugout proved how important it was for them.
Rana was crucial in that 20, as he added 11 of them to ensure their lead. Finally, Rahul Prasad dismissed Rana on 27, and Murasingh took his chance to hit a six off Shahbaz Ahmed to get to his fifth first-class ton, before they were bowled out for 385, with a lead of 49.
Three important points for Tripura!
— Koushik Biswas (@kbofficial25) November 4, 2025
It is their captain incredible Manisankar Murasingh, who hits the important boundary to earn their first point of this campaign.
Bengal would be hugely disappointed but they have been outplayed here.
Kudos to Rana Dutta, who added 11. pic.twitter.com/unTbDMoUeI
Bengal’s scare with the bat
Although everything was settled with both teams knowing the end result, Tripura bowlers made sure they gave their home fans a reason to stay for a bit longer.
Rana Dutta, after his heroics with the bat, struck in the first over to dismiss Sudip Kumar Gharami, the centurion from the first inning, on duck. Then Abhijit Sarkar trapped Kazi Juanid Saifi in front of the wicket on a duck to make it a pair for the left-handed top-order batter. At 0/2, scenes looked scary for Bengal.
Abhijit Sarkar made it worse by dismissing Habib Gandhi with a short ball, which came at an awkward height for the left-hander as he went to pull the ball. The scoreboard said 13/3, trailed by 36. Tripura might have gone on to create something miraculous if Hrituraj Ghosh Roy had not dropped an easy catch at short midwicket off Abhitjit Sarkar, just two balls later.
Eventually, Anustup Majumdar and Shahbaz Ahmed took Bengal out of misery. Teams shook hands after Shahbaz reached his fifty, with Bengal finishing on 90/3.
Bengal now dropped to third place in the group while Tripura rose one spot up to No.7 after their three points. Bengal will next face Railways, while Tripura will host Assam from 8th November. Bengal will reach Kolkata before boarding a flight for Surat tomorrow, on Wednesday.
Bengal 0/2
— Koushik Biswas (@kbofficial25) November 4, 2025
Sudip Gharami and Kazi Junaid Saifi went for ducks!
Wicket a-piece for Rana Dutta and Abhijit Sarkar!#RanjiTrophy pic.twitter.com/AjBeVbhniT
“Knew that it won’t swing:” Murasingh
Post-match, Tripura captain Manisankar Murasingh told Sportz Point that he knew there would be no swing on the final day, even with the new ball. That is why he was confident that if he could get his eye in early, three points were on the cards.
“I have grown up playing here. I knew there would be no swing or seam, even with the new ball. I got a few early boundaries, which helped us get closer to the target. This is a great comeback by the team after two defeats. It was a near-perfect game for us,” Murasinggh told.
Player of the match Hanuma Vihari shared that the battle against Mohammed Shami needed to be won early on Day 4. Moreover, he appreciated the fact that the aggressive nature of Murasingh helped him play in his own style during their 116-run partnership.
“It was a great battle with Shami. The conditions were in my favour in this match, which is why I won the battle. Tripura have been doing well in the last few seasons, and after these three points, the team would be more confident,” Hanuma told Sportz Point.
Score summary:
Bengal (1st inning): 336; (Sudip Gharami 108, Habib Gandhi 95, Murasingh 56/3)
Tripura (1st inning): 385 (Hanuma Vihari 141, Murasingh 102*, Mohammed Kaif 79/4)
Bengal (2nd inning): 90/3 (Shabaz Ahmed 51*, Abhijit Sarkar 11/2)
Bengal (Playing XI): Sudip Kumar Gharami, Kazi Saifi, Shakir Habib Gandhi, Anustup Majumdar, Abishek Porel(w/c), Sumanta Gupta, Shahbaz Ahmed, Rahul Hari Prasad, Mohammed Kaif, Mohammed Shami, Ishan Porel.
Tripura (Playing XI): Bikramkumar Das, Hrituraj Roy, Sridam Paul, Hanuma Vihari, Vijay Shankar, Swapnil Singh, Manisankar Murasingh(c), Sentu Sarkar(w), Rana Dutta, Abhijit K Sarkar, Bikramjit Debnath