Arindam Ghosh of Mohun Bagan has entered the record books and quiz books as the first ever centurion in pink ball cricket in India, putting up an unbeaten ton in the first session of the third day, helping his team stretch their lead to beyond 400 against Bhowanipore in the CAB Super League final. The 29-year-old Ghosh, though born in Bengal, plays domestic cricket for Railways.
He was part of the Bengal team till the 2011/12 season, also being part of the IPL's 2009 season for Kolkata Knight Riders. He had been part of the India U-19 squad in his earliest days as well, competing with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite not making it as big as some of his U-19 teammates, Ghosh has now achieved this historic feat.
If the pink ball spread concern among batsmen with its trail of devastation in the morning of the second day, as 7 wickets fell for 45, the second day was reassuring for wielders of the willow. Mohun Bagan have finished the first session with a score of 275/6, with a lead of 421 runs. Ghosh is unbeaten on 104 and his partner is Sanjib Sanyal, who is batting on 43.
Ghosh’s century came off 181 balls. His knock consisted of ten fours and four sixes.
Bhowanipore bowlers failed to reach any threat to the Bagan pair, with their medium pacers lacking the firepower that Shami had shown on the second day, and the spinners still yet to find their groove with the pink ball. The amount of grass on the Eden pitch for this particular match is being talked about by players as the reason why teams have not opted to bowl their spinners.
Anustup Majumdar of Mohun Bagan had reached close to a century in the first innings, but had been unfortunately run out in the first innings in his 80s, while also partnering Sanyal. There was to be no similar mistake with Arindam Ghosh, who brought up the landmark score in noteworthy fashion as well.
With his individual score on 96, he stepped out of his crease, and blasted a Writtick Chatterjee delivery to the mid-on stands in true Sehwagesque fashion.
Given the size of Mohun Bagan’s lead, and the constant threat of rain hanging over the skies, it is thought that the declaration will be coming soon. Five more sessions remain in the pink ball match.
Brief Scores – Mohun Bagan 275/6 (Arindam 104*, Sanjib Sanyal 43*; A Bhattacharjee 4/84) and 299 lead Bowanipore 153 by 421 runs.
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