Ranadeb strikes it rich

At the Wankhede Stadium, the South Zone, who threatened to chase down...

At the Wankhede Stadium, the South Zone, who threatened to chase down East’s target of 273 runs, had their hopes dashed after facing Ranadeb Bose and Co. Resuming the day at 113-3, South — who were hoping to ride on captain S Badrinath’s batting — were bundled for 204 runs, falling 68 runs behind the target.

Bose’s 57 wickets in Ranji Trophy, in the season before last, had earned him a place of pride in the domestic circuit. However, a meager 21 scalps the following year, had begun to weigh him down. “You can’t expect anyone to take 50 wickets every season,” Bose said after East packed off South.

The Wednesday morning effort had restored that struggling image. Although Bose was not fast in the eight overs he bowled, he was accurate in line and swing and managed three wickets for 29 runs. However, statistics will not reveal the fear he instilled in the minds of the South batsmen after he had successfully removed Badrinath, the most important of them all.

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“Badrinath’s wicket was very crucial because he is capable of converting his innings into big ones. He has been match winner for many years,” Bose said after the match.

When Badrinath walked on to the field in the morning — knowing fully well he would have to stick around if South were to have any chance — there was little hope for East other than to rely on the pace battery of Bose, SS Paul and Debasis Mohanty. But even before Paul and Mohanty could get into the rhythm, Bose gave vent to the steam that left South stumped.

Brief Scores: East Zone 313 & 163 bt South Zone 204 & 204 (S Badrinath 57, Prasad Reddy 39; R Bose 3/67, T Saha 3/56, P Das 2/2) by 68 runs.