Banik saves the day for Tripura as match ends in draw

Inspite of a seven wicket haul by Bengal's S Pearuddin, a fighting century by S Banik helped Tripura salvage a draw on the third and final day of their East Zone Under-14 match against Bihar at the East Calcutta District Sports Council Ground in Calcutta on Thursday.

Needing 249 for a win, Tripura made a disastrous start when they lost opener SD Burma (0) caught by by Himadri Pal off Pearuddin in the second over. His partner D Dutta (5) departed soon after when he fell leg before to Pearuddin. Then S Banik (114) and Subhrajit Roy (12) took the score on to 48 when the latter fell leg before to Sarnendu Pal. With the score board reading 48 for 3, D Choudury (14) joined Banik to forge a 44 run fourth wicket stand in 12.2 overs. Then two quick wickets fell.

But the partnership that saved the match for Tripura was the 63 run seventh wicket stand between Banik and BD Burma (8) which came in 26.2 overs. Banik fell after a 258 minute stay at the crease, faced 200 balls and hit 19 boundaries.

Thereafter BD Burma held the fort for Tripura. Burma was the ninth wicket to fall. But by that time he had stayed at the centre for 112 minutes and faced 100 balls to score 8 runs. Tripura then trudged along to 194 for nine when the day's play ended.

Earlier on the second day, the Tripura first innings folded up at 159, giving Bengal a lead of 122 runs. In reply Bengal scored 126 runs in their second innings, when the skipper Himadri Pal declared the innings. Openers A Bhowmick (21) and Arindam Ghosh (21) added 29 runs in 7.3 overs. Then S Mukherjee (28), S Gond (12) and S Pearuddin (12) chipped in with useful contributions with the bat.