Bengal beat Kerala by 287 runs in Ranji Trophy Elite Group C at Mangalapuram
Bengal defeated Kerala by 287 runs in a Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match at the KCA Stadium, Mangalapuram on Thursday, October 29, 2026, with the hosts folding an hour before lunch on the final day.
Bengal posted 350 in the first innings and followed on with 198 in their second, while Kerala made 141 in their first innings and were dismissed for 120 in 38.4 overs in the chase. A 37-run ninth-wicket stand between Mohammed Azharuddeen and M.D. Nidheesh helped Kerala cross the 100-mark; Nidheesh top-scored with 33 and was the last man out, stumped by wicketkeeper Abishek Porel off Shahbaz Ahmed.
Mohammed Shami and Pradipta Pramanik led Bengal’s attack: Shami steamed in to bowl an intense seven-over spell to take two wickets while Pradipta Pramanik bowled unchanged to grab two wickets and took the first 10-wicket haul of his First Class career.
Kerala’s second-innings collapse began in the second over when Pradipta extracted sharp bounce that took the shoulder of Vishnu Vinod’s bat and flew to Abhimanyu Easwaran at first slip. Salman Nizar fell for one after edging Pradipta to Abhimanyu, and Shami uprooted the stumps of Aditya Saravte for 0 to leave Kerala 58 for seven.
Shami then removed Vaisakh Chandran after a short ball struck the batter’s finger followed by a fuller delivery that hit the stumps as Chandran backed away. Azharuddeen and Nidheesh produced a brief resistance, playing a few attacking shots against the spinners, but that recovery ended soon after the drinks break.
Shahbaz Ahmed clean bowled Mohammed Azharuddeen and had M.D. Nidheesh stumped to finish the innings; Player of the match Shahbaz Ahmed then wrapped up the win by taking the last two wickets. The scores: Bengal - 1st innings: 350. Kerala - 1st innings: 141. Bengal - 2nd innings: 198. Kerala - 2nd innings: Abhishek J.Nair lbw Pramanik 0, Jalaj Saxena c Chatterjee b Pramanik 18, Abhishek P.Nair b Pramanik 0, Sachin Baby st Porel b Pramanik 10, Vishnu Vinod c Easwaran b 19, Salman Nizar c Easwaran b Primanik 1, Mohammed Azharuddeen b Shahbaz 26, Aditya Sarvate b Shami 0,.Vaisakh Chandran b Shami 3, M.D. Nidheesh st Porel b Shahbaz 33, N.P. Basil not out 0; Extras (b-9, lb-1): 10; Total ( in 38.4 overs): 120. Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-15, 3-30, 4-51, 5-54, 6-57, 7-58, 8-70, 9-107. Bengal bowling: Shami 12-3-40-2, Pramanik 19-3-51-6; Shahbaz 7.4-1-19-2.
The result completed Bengal’s third consecutive victory in the tournament.