With the knockout stage starting on January 31, we take a look at the qualifiers from Group A and Group B
A league phase that saw plenty of high points and close contests has left eight quarter-finalists trying to take one more step towards the Ranji Trophy crown for 2022-23 Here’s a quick look at the qualifiers from Groups A and B.
Bengal
Won 4, Lost 1, Drawn 2 (2 first-innings lead); Points – 32
Twice this season, against Uttar Pradesh and Baroda, Bengal were on the back foot. But both times, they showed immense self belief to turn things around and win. These two games aside, Bengal flexed their muscles for much of the group stages before being given an eye-opener by Odisha in their final group fixture on an Eden green top, where they missed the services of Anustup Majumdar (thumb injury) and Akash Deep (concussion) and Shahbaz Ahmed (national duty). Bengal want to win for Manoj Tiwary, who is determined to bow out with a Ranji Trophy title. They came close two seasons ago, but were pipped by Saurashtra in the final. Can they emulate Sambaran Banerjee’s class of 1989-90? First-up is Jharkhand, their east-zone rivals.
Top performer
Bengal have rewarded performers, irrespective of age. Anustup Majumdar, 38, has been a shining example. He has lived up to his billing as a crisis man and is their second-highest run-getter with 565 runs in 10 innings at 62.77. Purely on impact, his 83 not out in the second-innings of a tough 257 chase in their opening game stands out. Overall, he’s so far hit two hundreds and two fifties. Bengal will be hoping he recovers from a thumb injury ahead of the quarters.
Uttarakhand
Won 3, Lost 0, Drawn 4 (4 first-innings lead); Points – 29
Amid allegations of financial mismanagement by the association, players complaining of lack of facilities and pending payments, and “influential” members interfering in selection, the cricket has continued to thrive in Uttarakhand. In the quarterfinals last season, when they were beaten in a little over two days by Mumbai, who recorded the biggest win in terms of runs in first-class cricket, it threatened to blow their lid off. But a young group has rallied together under a new captain in Jiwanjot Singh to surprise some big teams. Wins over Nagaland and Odisha set them up, before they cracked open the group by rolling over Himachal Pradesh, runners-up of the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20s, for 49 and winning their third straight game. First-innings honours against UP and Baroda sealed their knockouts berth.
Top performer
Mayank Mishra has become one of Uttarakhand’s lynchpins over time. The left-arm spinner leads their wickets tally with 32 scalps in seven matches. In doing so, he’s proved to be equally successful against Elite teams, too. His match haul of ten wickets against Bengal is a case in point. Capable of wheeling away and bowling long spells by holding one end together, Mishra has given the fast bowlers much relief in terms of being able to maintain pressure.
