Bengal stormed into the knockouts of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, topping Group A after defeating Rajasthan by seven wickets in their final league game at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Thursday.
Chasing 154, Abishek Porel played a brilliant knock of 78 off 48 balls before being dismissed in the 15th over by Kamlesh Nagarkoti. However, it was too late for Rajasthan to mount a comeback, leaving its qualification hopes hanging by a thread despite having won the first five games of the league.
Porel started the chase with a straight six over bowler Aniket Choudhary’s head. His opening partner, Karan Lal, also found the boundary with a square drive before he was caught at point off the very next ball.
Sudip Gharami joined Porel, and the duo made sure the bowlers couldn’t settle into a rhythm, either by playing deep in the crease or charging down the track. Porel hit four sixes and seven fours, while Gharami anchored the innings perfectly. Even when two quick wickets fell, captain Gharami kept his composure, guiding Bengal to its sixth win with an unbeaten 50 off 45 balls, securing the victory with nine balls to spare.
