Bengal began its Ranji Trophy campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Delhi by nine wickets at the Bengal Cricket Academy ground in Kalyani on Wednesday. The hosts secured six valuable points after their spinners delivered a decisive performance and the openers completed a comfortable run chase.

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Delhi resumed its second innings at 101 for three but managed to reach 277, setting Bengal a target of 89 runs in the final session. Captain Ayush Badoni led the visitors’ resistance with an impressive 85 off 134 deliveries, hitting 10 boundaries. His innings helped Delhi build a more competitive total after restarting the day with wickets in hand.

However, Bengal’s spin attack proved crucial in restricting the visitors. The home side’s spinners combined to claim seven wickets, breaking Delhi’s resistance and ensuring that the target remained within reach.

Chasing 89 for victory, Bengal made light work of the task. Openers Abhimanyu Easwaran and Ankur Paul produced a brisk partnership, guiding the team past the target in just 15.3 overs. Their composed yet attacking approach ensured that Bengal finished the contest without allowing Delhi an opportunity to fight back.

The nine-wicket victory gave Bengal an encouraging start to its Ranji Trophy Elite Group C campaign. The team’s performance highlighted the effectiveness of its spin bowling and the strength of its top order under pressure.

For Delhi, Badoni’s fighting knock was a notable positive, but the inability to build a sufficiently challenging target proved costly. Bengal’s bowlers and openers ultimately combined to deliver a convincing result on home soil, earning the team six points from its opening fixture.