Royal Challengers impress in the opening round of Ranji Trophy

If Faf, Finn Allen, and Maxwell’s heroics out of the country weren’t lucid enough, two of the Indian members of the latest RCB squad returned flamboyant figures as Bengal scripted a remarkable win against Baroda in the tournament opener.

Bengal had a terrible outing till the final day showed its magic. Baroda managed to score 181 in the opening innings which ideally should have enlivened the spirits in the Bengal camp. Ishan Porel spearheaded the charge with 4 wickets while Akash Deep claimed 2.

Much to everyone’s startlement, the Bengal batting lineup crumbled like a house of cards ahead of a flaming canon-ball as Baroda skittled them out for a humiliating 88. Sheth’s fifer was too hot for Bengal to handle.

Baroda came back strongly in the second innings but the Bengal bowlers kept them in check with decent spells that didn’t really allow them to break free of the shackles. Akash Deep shined with three wickets while Shahbaz claimed one.

The highlight of the game, however, was a phenomenal display from Shahbaz in the second innings. Chasing a monumental total of 349, Bengal was teetering at 242 for 6, and more importantly, they had lost Manoj Tiwary by then who looked set.

Shahbaz took over the reins from thereon and forged a crucial match-winning partnership with Abhishek Porel to snatch away an almost impossible victory from the jaws of defeat. Shahbaz stayed unbeaten for 71 runs while Abhishek managed 53 runs.

It wasn’t just Shahbaz who shone from the Challenges squad. Another lower middle-order batter, Mahipal Lomror played a phenomenal knock in the second innings for Rajasthan Royals where he scored a 79 that came on the back of a resolute 32 in the first.