Ganguly and Saha shine in Bengal's victory over Assam

Kolkata, Feb 18 Opener Wriddhiman Saha's unbeaten 102 and Sourav Ganguly's 64 took Bengal to a comfortable eight wicket win over Assam in Vijay Hazare Trophy here today.

Chasing Assam's 269/8 in alloted 50 overs, Bengal made 272/2 in 45.3 overs with Saha and Manoj Tiwari not out on 102 and 26 respectively.

The win earned Bengal four points to total nine from first win's five points against Jharkhand.

Electing to bat Assam made 269 with a century from opener Sib Sankar Roy (111 in 120 balls) and 79 from Deepak Sharma in a placid wicket at Eden Gardens. Roy hit 12 4s and a sixer, blasting Dinda all around before giving a simple catch to Manoj Tiwary off Dinda.

After Jacob Martin got out on duck falling leg before from Dinda's first ball, who finished with 3/84 in ten overs, Roy and Tarjinder Singh steadied Assam's innings before the latter got run out on 26.

Assam with two defeats, first from Tripura, were now yet to script a point in one-day East Zone championship.

Deepak Sharma also contributed valuable 79 runs to team's total 269 which was commendable at Eden.

After opening partners Saha and Abhishek Banerjee, who made 68 runs before adjudging LBW off Arleen Konwar, they got Bengal 98 runs on first wicket in 17.5 overs, Sourav Gagnuly's coming and hitting ball in his typical style ensured the hosts an easy victory.

Gagnuly, who made only 17 in first match against Jharkhand, hit six 4s and two over the fence scoring 64 from 62 balls. His fifty came from a sixer on long on at Eden, reminding his flamboyant style. He was bowled out when trying to hit Konwar as team's total was 234 from 39.4 overs.

Saha, whose ton basically helped Bengal to cruise victory, hit nine 4s, said he was happy to have a century before coming IPL T-20.

In another play of the day Orissa trounced Tripura by seven wickets at Jadavpur University ground.

Sent to bat Tripura made 179/10 from 44 overs in which Nisith Shetty contributing 47 and Sourabh Dubey 39.

Orissa reached the target scoring 180/3 from 33.5 overs with former Test players Shiv Sundar Das 73 and Natraj Behera 44.

Orissa collected five points (4+1 bonus) and Tripura minus one.

In first match Tripura got four points from win over Assam.