Shami guides Mohun Bagan to 296-run win in pink ball match

India pacer Shami followed up his five-wicket haul in the first innings with a return of two for 82, while part-time seamer Vivek Singh was the wrecker-in-chief in the second essay with figures of five for 32 to bundle out Bhowanipore Club for 199 in 48.3 overs.

Having recovered from a knee surgery, Shami is eyeing a Test recall in the four-Test West Indies series next month and he said his focus in this match was to get his rhythm back.

Mohun Bagan sailed on pacer Mohammad Shami’s fine performance to beat Bhowanipore Club by 296 runs and win the CAB Super League title here at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday. Mohun Bagan, which is the oldest football club in Asia, thus earned another laurel of winning the first pink-ball day-night cricket match of the country.

Shami, who had picked up five wickets in the first innings, finished with two for 82 in the second to be the best performer for the winner. Mohun Bagan’s other seamer Vivek Singh did well in the second innings with a haul of five for 32 to skittle out Bhowanipur for 199 and ensure that it stopped well short of the target.

Beginning on the overnight score of 132 for six, Bhownipur added another 67 runs thanks to a 61-run partnership for the last wicket between the Ravikant Singh (32) and Geet Puri (29 not out). This was the second title of the season for Mohun Bagan, which has picked up the local T20 title winning J.C. Mukherjee Trophy earlier in the season.

Eden, which is hopeful of hosting the first day-night Test later in the year, thus made a successful initiation to the new format that has been conceived to preserve and popularise the longer format of the sport.

“I hope this pink-ball match prospers, I would definitely prefer it,” said Shami, who had missed the greater part of the year, including the World T20, owing to injury. “The best part of this format is that you get to ball one session under sun and then the ball starts to move more once the lights are on,” Shami, who was named the man of the match, said.

Shami, who has recovered from a knee surgery and is now hoping for a recall to the Test squad, said he was getting his rhythm back. “I am now working to get the rhythm back after a long break. I am now feeling the same way like the time before the injury. It now feels nice to be back in action as the time spent during the injury was worst part of my life,” Shami said.

Brief Scores:

Mohun Bagan: 299 and 349 bt Bhowanipore Club 153 and 199 all out in 48.3 overs (Subham Chatterjee 50; Vivek Singh five for 32).