Bengal geared up to end 33-year trophy drought

Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary

There is tremendous amount of enthusiasm all over in West Bengal with their team qualifying for the Ranji Trophy final. No. 4 Anustup Majumdar scored 200 in both innings as Bengal crushed Madhya Pradesh by 306 runs in the semi-final to set up the big-ticket clash with Saurashtra starting tomorrow.

Medium pacer Akash Deep and left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik also starred with fifers in the first and second innings respectively. Bengal haven't lifted the coveted trophy since 1989-90. Even in these 33 years, they have reached the final four times but have fallen short on all occasions. The 1938-39 season was the first time they became domestic champions.

Captain Manoj Tiwary, who is looking to hold his first Ranji Trophy, isn't too stressed before the encounter. "I am not thinking too much. We all should just concentrate on the final and nothing else," said Tiwary.

Also read: Ranji Trophy: Arpit Vasavada shines as Saurashtra set up final against Bengal

To mark the momentous occasion, the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has invited all players of the Bengal team that won in 1989-90 when they defeated Delhi. The bell-ringing, a pre-match activity that has become a norm in all matches at Eden Gardens, will be done by the skipper of the 1989-90 Ranji Trophy-winning Bengal team, Sambaran Banerjee. "It will be a great honour to ring the bell at the start of the match. I could never imagine I would be asked to do such a thing," said Banerjee.

The CAB has also decided to let the gates of the stadium open with no tickets being sold. With free entry for spectators, the stadium is expected to witness a huge crowd throughout the five days.