Ranji Trophy: Maharashtra lead Bengal by 64 after late resistance at Eden Gardens

Maharashtra moved into a 64-run first-innings lead over Bengal at Eden Gardens in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C fixture on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, reaching 207 for nine in reply to Bengal’s 143. Play was then stopped by bad light for the second straight day.

Resuming on 21 for two, Maharashtra lost Ankit Bawne to Mohammed Kaif, who breached his defence with an incoming ball, and further setbacks followed as Suraj Jaiswal and Kaif removed Sachin Dhas and Harshal Kate respectively. Mohammed Shami accounted for opener Siddhesh Veer when the left-hander pulled to deep fine-leg, leaving Maharashtra reeling at 64 for six.

No. 8 Tanay Sanghavi produced a maiden first-class fifty, compiling 57 off 167 balls with 3 fours and a six and occupying the crease for around four hours while guiding the lower order. Saurabh Nawale and Sanghavi put on 38 before Nawale was caught behind off Shahbaz Ahmed’s first over at the stroke of lunch; Sanghavi then added 44 with Rajvardhan Hangargekar and 12 with Hitesh Walunj.

Sanghavi and Pradeep Dadhe stitched together an unbroken 49-run tenth-wicket partnership off 128 balls — the largest stand of the innings — with Dadhe on 22 from 59 balls including four fours. Sanghavi struck a straight six off Pradipta Pramanik during his innings as Maharashtra recovered from a precarious position.

Bengal’s bowlers found less assistance from the surface in the middle session as edges fell short and byes leaked, and Shahbaz Ahmed emerged as the most successful bowler in the post-lunch period. Shahbaz finished with three for 34, having taken two of his wickets after lunch.

Scorecard details: Bengal — 1st innings: 143. Maharashtra — 1st innings: Prithvi Shaw b Shami 12, Siddhesh Veer c Jaiswal b Shami 28, Digvijay Patil lbw b Shami 0, Ankit Bawne b Kaif 7, Sachin Dhas c Chatterjee b Jaiswal 7, Harshal Kate lbw b Kaif 1, Saurabh Nawale c Porel b Shahbaz 28, Tanay Sanghavi (batting) 57, Rajvardhan Hangargekar b Shahbaz 24, Hitesh Walunj c Abhimanyu b Shahbaz 1, Pradeep Dadhe (batting) 22; Extras (b-10, lb-9, nb-1): 20; Total (for nine wkts. in 79 overs): 207. Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-18, 3-31, 4-46, 5-47, 6-64, 7-102, 8-146, 9-158.

Bengal bowling figures: Shami 22-7-36-3, Jaiswal 13-0-38-1, Kaif 12-2-33-2, Shahbaz 17-4-34-3, Pramanik 13-1-39-0, Sumanta 2-1-8-0.