CALCUTTA: Bengal touched the pinnacle of glory in Indian cricket when they won the Ranji Trophy for the first time in a little over five decades on March 28th.
At the historic Eden gardens in this capital of the eastern State of West Bengal, Bengal + edged out holders Delhi on a better run quotient on the concluding day of the rain marred final and recorded their first post-independence Ranji triumph.
The last time Bengal won was in 1938-39, as undivided Bengal, at the same venue under the captaincy of T.C. Long field.
Tremors of celebrations were felt throughout the city when 3engal ended up securing a better run quotient of 53 to Delhi’s 27.80 after umpires P.D, Reporter and R.S. Rathod decided play was not possible due to rains and water seepage onto the pitch despite covers,
For Bengal, the victory was all the more great as they had lost to Delhi by an innings and a whooping margin in the final in the capital last year,
Electing to bat, Delhi who were on a hat trick track, were all out for 278 in their first innings and Bengal replied with 212 for four (including 36 bonus runs as Delhi bowled nine overs short) as the weather gods kept the fate of the match on the razor’s edge.
Bengal skipper Samba ran Banner jee said: “It is the greatest moment of my life. This victory has made me forget all my disappointments in my 17 years of cricket.”
Delhi skipper Kirti Azad also gave Bengal full credit for playing well but said it was a “technical victory.”
Article extracted from this publication >> April 6, 1990
