Sandeep Sarkar, Kolkata: Just ten days ago IPLCAB did a laser show at a cost of 47 lakh rupees. The opening of the Bengal T20 League in Eden Gardens on Friday was uneventful. Sunidhi Chauhan performed in Bodhan of the tournament last season. This time there was no entertainment at the opening ceremony. CAB President Sourav Gangopadhyay planted trees in the afternoon on the occasion of World Environment Day. In the evening, Sourav and Jhulan Goswami were the main attractions on the makeshift stage set up in the grounds. The captains of eight teams were also present. White chairs were arranged for members to sit on the lawn of the club house. Half the seats remained empty. CAB has put up a lot of hoardings in the whole city. But not more than sixty-nine people were seen in the gallery.
Sourav, however, is optimistic about the tournament. Standing on the stage, he said, ‘This is a great platform for young cricketers to prove themselves. I will also thank the field workers. There are so many matches. Still made a great field and pitch. I believe it will be a good tournament.’
However, the field fight turned out to be a thriller. Novas Royals Purulia and Adamas Howrah Warriors faced each other in the first match of the tournament. Novus Royals Purulia beat Adamas Howrah Warriors by 4 runs in that match.
In the Bengal T20 League (previously known as Bengal Pro T20), last time champions Adamas Howrah Warriors. They lost the first match by 4 runs. Adams Howrah Warriors won the toss and took the field at Eden on Friday. Novas Purulia Royals scored 154 runs for 6 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. At one time it seemed that the score might go up to 120 in Merkett. Slow batting happens in the power play. But in the end, Yuvraj Deepak Keswani turned the game around with a 38-ball 54-run innings. Ankur Pal scored 33 (25 balls) and Pradeepta Pramanik scored 30 (18 balls). Kanishk Seth took three wickets and Samaf Sharma, Ritwik Chatterjee and Sachin Kumar Yadav took one wicket each.
In response, Adamas Howrah Warriors were bowled out for 150 runs in 19.5 overs. Ankit Chatterjee scored 43 runs (31 balls). Pritam Chakraborty, Pradeepta Pramanik and Harsh Dev Gautam took two wickets each.
