Kolkata: Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary did not have a big role to play in the commanding victory over Bihar in their final Ranji Trophy match of the season at the Eden Gardens on Sunday, yet he will have fond memories of this game.
Playing in the last match of his career, Tiwary bent down to kiss the hallowed Eden turf after Bengal routed Bihar by an innings and 204 runs with over five sessions to spare.Although it was Abhimanyu Easwaran, Mukesh Kumar and Suraj Jaiswal who set up the victory, 38-year-old Tiwary was the cynosure at the end of the match, congratulated by everyone for a brilliant first class career. His eyes would have been moist as he was carried out of the ground by teammates.
Bengal eventually finished with 19 points from seven matches in Group ‘B’, not quite enough for them to progress further. It could have been different had the weather not robbed them of a few points. In the end, Tiwary would be proud of his boys.
Tiwary played in 12 ODIs, scoring 287 runs with an unbeaten century. He also played in three T20Is.
Bihar were never really in the game and when they started the day at 32 for one and it was a matter of when they would fold up. They managed to survive for just 21.1 overs and Mukesh and Jaiswal ran through the lineup. While the former grabbed six wickets, the latter picked up the four. The 10-wicket match haul will boost Mukesh’s confidence when he rejoins Team India in Ranchi ahead of the fourth Test against England.
CAB felicitation:
Later in the evening, Cricket Association of Bengal felicitated Tiwary, who also completed 10,000 first class runs this season. Sourav Ganguly too was present on the occasion and paid glowing tributes to the retiring cricketer. Tiwary thanked his teammates, seniors and CAB officials during an emotional farewell speech. “I am happy to retire at my favourite ground among my peers, friends and seniors who have loved me all my life,” he said. He iterated that not winning a Ranji crown remains a regret.
SCOREBOARD
Bihar (1st innings): 95.
Bengal (1st innings) 411/5 decl.
Bihar (2nd innings, o/n 32/1):
M Mahrour b Mukesh 24, R Raj c A Porel b Mukesh 12, RP Singh c A Porel b Mukesh 0, S Gani lbw Jaiswal 28, BK Saurabh c&b Jaiswal 22, P Singh b Mukesh 23, VP Singh c Easwaran b Jaiswal 0, A Aman c Gandhi b Jaiswal 0, R Shankar b Mukesh 2. Extras: