Shami shines with pink ball as Bagan beat Bhowanipore

Pacer Mohammed Shami shone with the pink ball as he picked up match figures of 7/124 to help Mohun Bagan defeat Bhowanipore by 296 runs in India's first ever multi-day game under lights at the Eden Gardens here on Tuesday.

Shami bagged 2/82 in the second innings after a five-for in the first. Seamer Vivek Singh was the pick of the bowlers as he returned figures of 5/32 to skittle out Bhowanipore for 199 in 48.3 overs in the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) Super League final.

A top CAB official had earlier said the match was held to show that Eden now is ready to stage a day and night Test match.

Shami who was adjudged man-of-the-match, once again gave his nod to the pink ball.

"I will prefer bowling with the pink ball any day, hope this pink ball match will be a success," he said.

"Once it is under the lights, the ball starts swinging a lot. I got reverse swing in the first innings. I think if the condition is dry, the ball will reverse."

Bhowanipore resumed their innings at 132/6 on the fourth and final day of the game, but it lasted just one hour as Singh cleaned up the tail in quick time.

Shami, who recuperated from a knee injury recently said he was focussed to get his rhythm back. The speedster is also in the fray to grab a place in the Test squad scheduled to travel to West Indies next month.

Brief scores:

Mohun Bagan: 299 all out and 349 all out vs Bhowanipore Club: 1st Innings 153 all out and 199 all out (Subham Chatterjee 50; Vivek Singh 5/32).

--IANS

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