The first semifinal match of the 2022 edition of the Ranji Trophy is currently underway in Bengaluru, where Bengal is playing against Madhya Pradesh. Alur is playing host to this big game, where the Madhya Pradesh cricket team batted first and scored 341 runs in the first innings. Manoj Tiwary scored a hundred for Bengal and helped the team score 273 runs in their first innings.
Manoj Tiwary is the Sports Minister of West Bengal. While he has not played international cricket for quite some time, he has been playing domestic cricket for Bengal actively. Tiwary has done a great job for the team this year, and he continued his fine form in the big semifinal match as well.
Trailing by 341 runs, Bengal was down to 11/3. Abhishek Raman and Sudip Kumar got out for ducks, while veteran batter Anustup Majumdar departed to the dressing room after scoring four runs off seven balls.
Even Abhimanyu Easwaran, the skipper of the Bengal cricket team, departed to the pavilion in the 14th over, while wicket-keeper batter Abhishek Porel failed to touch double digits. Bengal was in deep, deep trouble.
Manoj Tiwary and Shahbaz Ahmed then came to the team’s rescue as they smashed a hundred each. Tiwary completed his century and then celebrated with a handwritten note to his wife and his children. You can check out the photo of his letter right here:
Manoj Tiwary shows a handmade note after scoring the century to appreciate his family. pic.twitter.com/Q51dSd5xkj
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Can Manoj Tiwary help Bengal win the match against Madhya Pradesh?
Madhya Pradesh earned a big first-innings lead. Often, the first innings lead is enough to give the team a place in the next round of the tournament.
Madhya Pradesh scored 173 runs for the loss of two wickets in their second innings. They lead by 231 runs, and Bengal will have to chase the target set by them in the remaining days to ensure a place in the final.
