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On this day (Netaji Jayanti), 1949, Bihar won one of the greatest matches on Indian soil.
They needed to defend only 78. And Delhi were 32/2 overnight.
The manager of the Delhi side had been so confident that he had invited people for the victory lunch.
You cannot blame him.
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They needed to defend only 78. And Delhi were 32/2 overnight.
The manager of the Delhi side had been so confident that he had invited people for the victory lunch.
You cannot blame him.
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Bihar had never won a Ranji Trophy match until then.
Moreover, only once had a team defended a two-digit First-Class score until then on Indian soil, back in 1892-93.
Set to chase 98, the Parsees had been bowled out for 90 against the touring Lord Hawke’s XI.
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Moreover, only once had a team defended a two-digit First-Class score until then on Indian soil, back in 1892-93.
Set to chase 98, the Parsees had been bowled out for 90 against the touring Lord Hawke’s XI.
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But Hawke's team had consisted of six Test players.
The Parsees seldom got to play international attacks.
This was nothing like that.
The only star of the Bihar attack was captain Shute Banerjee, then 37.
He had toured England in 1936 and 1946 but had not his Test cap.
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The Parsees seldom got to play international attacks.
This was nothing like that.
The only star of the Bihar attack was captain Shute Banerjee, then 37.
He had toured England in 1936 and 1946 but had not his Test cap.
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His most famous feat on these tours came with bat, when No. 10 Chandu Sarwate and No. 11 Banerjee added 249 for the last wicket.
Here, too, he batted at four.
However, a week before the Test, Banerjee had taken 7/67 for East Zone against the touring West Indians at Allahabad.
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Here, too, he batted at four.
However, a week before the Test, Banerjee had taken 7/67 for East Zone against the touring West Indians at Allahabad.
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It was the only defeat the West Indians faced on that tour.
So her was in decent form.
Banerjee's new-ball partner was 30-year-old left-arm swing bowler Bimal 'Potla' Bose.
And now these men had to defend 46 runs on the final morning.
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So her was in decent form.
Banerjee's new-ball partner was 30-year-old left-arm swing bowler Bimal 'Potla' Bose.
And now these men had to defend 46 runs on the final morning.
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It was only three years since Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose had disappeared.
Nobody knew whether he was dead or alive.
It was his 51st birth anniversary.
"A solemn function of garlanding and saluting the portrait of Netaji by members of the contesting sides was observed."
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Nobody knew whether he was dead or alive.
It was his 51st birth anniversary.
"A solemn function of garlanding and saluting the portrait of Netaji by members of the contesting sides was observed."
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Delhi got 6 of their 46 runs.
Then Dr Ravi Vaid (who alone got 22) attempted a hoick off Bose, missed the line completely, and was trapped LBW. 38/3.
Bishan Bihari hit Banerjee to the substitute fielder Shyamlal Sinha at mid-on.
Bose trapped Laxmi Chand Saxena leg-before.
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Then Dr Ravi Vaid (who alone got 22) attempted a hoick off Bose, missed the line completely, and was trapped LBW. 38/3.
Bishan Bihari hit Banerjee to the substitute fielder Shyamlal Sinha at mid-on.
Bose trapped Laxmi Chand Saxena leg-before.
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H Kishenchand, who had scored 51 in the first innings, was out caught, off Bose.
Two more runs were added.
Then Banerjee demolished Delhi with a hat-trick, the sixth in the history of Ranji Trophy.
Ishwar Dayal, Hargopal Singh, and Gian Kapoor were all bowled.
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Two more runs were added.
Then Banerjee demolished Delhi with a hat-trick, the sixth in the history of Ranji Trophy.
Ishwar Dayal, Hargopal Singh, and Gian Kapoor were all bowled.
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Delhi were 43/9. They had lost 7 wickets for 5 runs.
Captain Kiran Bahadur and wicketkeeper Hargopal Berry wicketkeeper added 5. Then Banerjee had Bahadur caught behind.
Chasing 78, Delhi had been bowled out for 48 after being 38/2.
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Captain Kiran Bahadur and wicketkeeper Hargopal Berry wicketkeeper added 5. Then Banerjee had Bahadur caught behind.
Chasing 78, Delhi had been bowled out for 48 after being 38/2.
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No side has defended a lower target on Indian soil till date.
Banerjee (6/22) and Bose (4/25) had bowled unchanged throughout the 21-over innings of Delhi.
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Banerjee (6/22) and Bose (4/25) had bowled unchanged throughout the 21-over innings of Delhi.
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Note:
Potla Bose's elder brother Benoy was a freedom fighter.
Along with Badal Gupta and Dinesh Gupta, he killed Lt Col NS Simpson at the Writers' Building in Dalhousie Square, Calcutta on December 8, 1930.
After Independence, Dalhousie Square was renamed BBD Bagh after them.
Potla Bose's elder brother Benoy was a freedom fighter.
Along with Badal Gupta and Dinesh Gupta, he killed Lt Col NS Simpson at the Writers' Building in Dalhousie Square, Calcutta on December 8, 1930.
After Independence, Dalhousie Square was renamed BBD Bagh after them.
