Ranji Trophy 2026-27: Sanghavi’s unbeaten fifty helps Maharashtra take first-innings lead against Bengal

Tanay Sanghavi struck an unbeaten 57 to help Maharashtra recover from 64 for six and take a 64-run first-innings lead against Bengal. | Photo Credit: PTI

Maharashtra’s No.8 batter Tanay Sanghavi’s brilliant maiden half-century steered the side out of trouble and placed it in a strong position against Bengal on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-C match at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday.

In reply to Bengal’s 143, Maharashtra tail-enders’ determined efforts helped the tourists gather at 207 for nine and secure a useful 64-run first innings lead before bad light prematurely ended the second successive day’s play.

Resuming from 21 for two, Maharashtra lost its batting mainstay Ankit Bawne as Mohammed Kaif breached his defence with an incoming delivery.

Suraj Jaiswal and Kaif removed Sachin Dhas and Harshal Kate respectively. Mohammed Shami ended opener Siddhesh Veer’s patient knock as the left-handed pulled one to deep fine-leg. Maharashtra tottered at 64 for six, but didn’t give up.

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Saurabh Nawale and Sanghavi (57 batting, 167b, 3x4, 1x6) added 38 before the former was caught behind off Shahbaz Ahmed’s first over at the stroke of lunch. The visitors, at 102 for seven, were still not out of trouble.

As the pitch eased out, Sanghavi presented a superb example of grit and temperament while leading his fellow lower order colleagues well during his four-hour stay.

The southpaw, who hit a straight six off Pradipta Pramanik in his limited stroke-play, added 44 with Hangargekar, 12 with Hitesh Walunj before forming a crucial unbroken 49-run stand off 128 balls, the biggest partnership of the innings, with Pradeep Dadhe (22 batting, 59b, 4x4) for the 10th wicket and scripting a turnaround.

Bengal bowlers struggled with lesser assistance from the track in the middle session. With the field spread out, edges falling short of fielders and byes leaking, the home team seemed clueless. The accurate Shahbaz, who scalped two in the post-lunch session, was the pick of the bowlers with three for 34.

THE SCORES

Bengal -- 1st innings: 143.

Maharashtra -- 1st innings: Prithvi Shaw b Shami 12, Siddhesh Veer c Jaiswal b Shami 28, Digvijay Patil lbw b Shami 0, Ankit Bawne b Kaif 7, Sachin Dhas c Chatterjee b Jaiswal 7, Harshal Kate lbw b Kaif 1, Saurabh Nawale c Porel b Shahbaz 28, Tanay Sanghavi (batting) 57, Rajvardhan Hangargekar b Shahbaz 24, Hitesh Walunj c Abhimanyu b Shahbaz 1, Pradeep Dadhe (batting) 22; Extras (b-10, lb-9, nb-1): 20; Total (for nine wkts. in 79 overs): 207.

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-18, 3-31, 4-46, 5-47, 6-64, 7-102, 8-146, 9-158.

Bengal bowling: Shami 22-7-36-3, Jaiswal 13-0-38-1, Kaif 12-2-33-2, Shahbaz 17-4-34-3, Pramanik 13-1-39-0, Sumanta 2-1-8-0.

Published on Nov 03, 2026

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