Sports Desk: Sobisco Smashers Malda continued their impressive run in the Bengal Pro T20 League with a commanding seven-wicket victory over Murshidabad Kings at Eden Gardens on Saturday. In a rain-affected contest reduced from 20 overs to 15 overs per side, Malda once again showcased their all-round strength to emerge as one of the strongest contenders in the tournament.
বাংলায় পড়ুন: মুর্শিদাবাদকে উড়িয়ে বেঙ্গল টি-২০ লিগে দুরন্ত জয় মালদার
After winning the toss, Malda captain Mukesh Kumar opted to field first, a decision that proved effective despite a fighting total from Murshidabad Kings. Batting first, Murshidabad posted 134 for 7 in their allotted 15 overs. Deepanshu top-scored with a valuable 47-run knock, while opener Rishav Chowdhury contributed an important 29 at the top of the order. However, regular wickets at crucial intervals prevented them from building a bigger total.
Malda’s bowling attack kept the pressure on throughout the innings. Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal emerged as the standout performer with the ball, picking up three important wickets. Captain Mukesh Kumar, Bikash Singh Senior and Prayash Ray Barman chipped in with one wicket each to restrict Murshidabad to a manageable score.
Chasing 135, Sobisco Smashers Malda came out with a fearless approach right from the beginning. The opening pair of Ritam Porel and Abhimanyu Easwaran dominated the Murshidabad bowlers with aggressive strokeplay and excellent running between the wickets.
Ritam Porel played the match-winning innings, smashing a brilliant 50 off just 29 deliveries. His attacking knock completely shifted the momentum in Malda’s favour and laid the perfect platform for the chase. After receiving the Player of the Match award, Ritam said, “The wicket was very good for batting. We knew that if we started well, the match would come under our control. I just wanted to play my natural game. It feels great to contribute to the team’s victory. Batting alongside Abhimanyu da gave me even more confidence. My goal is to continue performing consistently in the upcoming matches.”
At the other end, Abhimanyu Easwaran anchored the innings superbly with an unbeaten 48 off 31 balls. His calm and composed approach ensured that Malda never lost control of the chase. The partnership between the two batters completely took the game away from Murshidabad Kings.
For Murshidabad, Aditya Sharma claimed two wickets while Saksham Chowdhury picked up one, but their efforts were not enough to stop Malda’s dominant batting display.
Eventually, Sobisco Smashers Malda reached the target in just 13.4 overs, losing only three wickets in the process. With both bat and ball firing perfectly, Malda stamped their authority on the match and once again proved why they are considered one of the favourites in this season’s Bengal Pro T20 League.
The comprehensive seven-wicket victory will undoubtedly boost the team’s confidence as they continue their campaign with growing momentum.
