Kolkata: Manoj Tiwary hits a swashbuckling 39-ball 61 as Mohun Bagan picked a facile 17 runs victory over Customs in the inaugural match of the Bengal T20 Challenge played in bio secure environment at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday (November 24).
Customs won the toss and put Mohun Bagan to bat. Shedding the initial rustiness returning to game time after eight months, Mohun Bagan scored 156 losing five wickets. In reply Customs could only manage 139 for 6 in the stipulated 20 overs.
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Customs began well reducing Bagan to 50 for three, but a fourth wicket partnership between Manoj Tiwary and Shivam Sharma turned the tide in Bagan’s favour. It was in this time that Manoj was at his destructive best as he hit 5 fours and 3 sixes enroute his 61 off 39 balls. Vivek Singh also played a handy knock of 35 off 29 deliveries with four boundaries and two sixes.
While talking about the game Manoj said, “I am happy to score half- century. I tried to utilize my experience and we got the result in our favour. It felt good to be back to the field again. Cricket has started again, nothing can be better than this.”
In reply Customs began steadily but could never press on the accelerator. So despite a fighting 55 from Abhishek Das and 23 each from Chirag Pathak and Subhankar Bal lost their way towards the end with the pressure of run rate building on the team. Bapi Manna took two wickets for Customs while Sandipan Das (Jr) and Sayan Ghosh took two each for Bagan.
Before the match started, the trophy and jersey unveiled at a restrained ceremony on Tuesday marked by COVID-19 protocols that was attended by Sports Minister Aroop Biswas.
The trophy was unveiled at the Club House by Aroop Biswas, Minister in Charge Youth Services and Sports, in presence of CAB President Avishek Dalmiya, Satbir Singh, Honorary Secretary Snehasish Ganguly, Joint Secretary Debabrata Das and Chairman BOA Ajit Banerjee.
Later, Satbir rang the Eden Bell to set the tournament rolling. Speaking about the meet Biswas said, “The cricketers have been confined to their houses for several months. Our government took the initiative to see that football was back on the ground.”
“I am extremely happy to see CAB take the initiative to see that the cricketers come back to the ground. Our respected Chief Minister always backs sports and our government is committee to support CAB in all its initiative. I laud the CAB office bearers for organising this tournament in a flawless manner,” Biswas added.
CAB President Avishek Dalmiya said,”The Bengal T20 Challenge has been organised keeping all protocols in mind in the times of new normal. The players and support staff have been put in a bio bubble and all Covid protocols have been maintained.”
“As we are committed to cricket we needed a tournament to bring them back to the ground, but it was always safety first for our cricketers and hence we have left no stones unturned to ensure that the tournament progresses without any hiccup,” Dalmiya added.
“I also take this opportunity to thank the clubs for coming forward so spontaneously and taking part in the meet. I also thank the sponsors for supporting the meet,” Dalmiya further said after the trophy unveiled and the team jerseys were unveiled with the club representatives.
