Ranji Trophy: Bengal complete resounding innings win despite Nitish Reddy's 90

Bengal applied the final stamp of dominance on their quarterfinal clash against Andhra, completing an innings and 90-run win in Kalyani to seal their berth in the semifinal of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26. Nitish Kumar Reddy put up a strong vigil and top-scored with 90 runs, but it went in vain as Andhra succumbed to 244, 90 short of forcing a fourth innings in the game.

Resuming the final day on their overnight score of 67/3, Andhra lost skipper Ricky Bhui for 30 as Shahbaz Ahmed struck in the 10th over of the day. From 92/3, Andhra lost three wickets for four runs before Kalidindi Raju lent Nitish the support that he was after. The duo put together a partnership of 57 for the seventh wicket, with the stand broken by Anustup Majumdar as he removed Raju for 25. Another fruitful stand of 85 then followed between Nitish and Tripurana Vijay (46) as Andhra continued to fight hard.

Nitish unleashed shots all around the ground, including two big sixes over long on, before Shahbaz had him out caught and bowled for his fourth wicket of the innings. Wicket-keeper KS Bharat did not bat owing to an injury, meaning that Vijay's wicket, the ninth of the innings, was the final one that sent Bengal through to the semifinal, where they will face Jammu and Kashmir.

Brief Scores:Andhra 295 & 244 (Nitish Kumar Reddy 90, Tripurana Vijay 46, Shahbaz Ahmed 4-72) lost to Bengal 629 by an innings and 90 runs