Kolkata: Former India captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly was seen on cricket field at his home ground on Friday(December 3) at Eden Gardens in Kolkata in a match one-off competitive game between BCCI Board President’s XI and Secretary’s XI that the latter winning it by one run.The game was played ahead of the BCCI 90th Annual General Meeting in the home city of the President of the body on Saturday(December 4).
In a show of sheer nostalgia with a few former cricketers taking part, it was BCCI Secretary and skipper of their XI Jay Shah who opted to bat after winning the toss before his side posted competitive 128/3 in their quota of 15 overs.
In reply, BCCI President Sourav Ganguly’s side agonisingly fell just a run short losing 5 wickets during their chase. Besides Sourav, another legendary skipper of the national side Mohammad Azharuddin was also seen walking out to the centre to bat at a ground that had been a blessing for him during his time at the International circuit.
However, its was the Sourav in his hometown who looked like as if still have that touch of grace in him as he drove and cut on to his favoured off side where he showed his prowess to such an extent during his time that he was once termed as “The God of off-side”. He then brought back the years after sending a couple of balls out of the park with his trademark stepping out to spinners.
Earlier, batting first for Secretary XI, Arun Dhumal got bowled on 40 while Jaydev Shah retired on 36. Jay Shah should get a definite mention as well with the Secretary himself first managed remained not out on 10 with the bat before coming out bowl, picking up three wickets in his much ambitious spell despite not being a professional cricketer himself and it was also him who stopped the rhythm of the President XI’s chase with crucial wickets.
After President’s XI bowling was opened by Azharuddin and Sourav a pair only meant for fiction, their chase began well with an opening of stand 50 between Avishek Dalmiya and Vijay Patil.
But the duo got run out first of Dalmiya by Mithun Manhas and then of Patil by Jaydev broke the rhythm. Jay Shah then on top of that wrapped up the middle picking three wickets with a couple of them coming in one over.
Devajit Saikia and Sourav joined hand together to add a twist to the tale. However the former was cleaned up by Shah on 15 while Ganguly had to retire after 35 with still 14 runs needing from last two overs which the pair of Sanjoy Vermar (8*) and Riyaz Razak (5*) wad unable to do it only after managing 13 out of that.
