Manoj Tiwary scored an unbeaten 303—his first triple century and the second from Bengal after Devang Gandhi—against Hyderabad in Kalyani on Monday. This was the season’s first Ranji Trophy triple century. Tiwary, 34, hit 30 fours and five sixes in the 414-ball knock as Bengal turned the screws on their opponents, declaring on 635/7 and leaving them at 83/5 on the second day. Tiwary couldn’t get to Gandhi’s score of 323, made in 1998-99, because Bengal declared. “Don’t remind me of that,” said Tiwary. “We would have declared at tea but how often do you have a batsman on 298 then,” said coach Arun Lal.
“It was a well paced innings. He was initially very aggressive and in the middle he settled down. He is a strong, fit guy and a champion batsman. Next game against Delhi, let him get another double,” said Lal. Bengal host Delhi next week at a yet undecided venue.
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“I am happy that my first 300 came when the team was in a difficult situation,” said the former Bengal captain. Batting first, Bengal were 60/3 before Tiwary and Anustup Majumdar (59) added 112 for the fourth wicket. Tiwary and Shreevats Goswami (95) added 190 for the fifth wicket.
“There have been occasions when I have missed this milestone so it was long overdue. Will cherish this,” said Tiwary, whose previous best was 267 against Madhya Pradesh in 2011-12. “When I came to the dressing room (on Sunday, when he was batting on 156) I saw a number of messages that said ‘first score a double and then aim for the triple’. I was very happy to see some many people cheering for me despite all the controversies I have gone through.”
{{/usCountry}}“There have been occasions when I have missed this milestone so it was long overdue. Will cherish this,” said Tiwary, whose previous best was 267 against Madhya Pradesh in 2011-12. “When I came to the dressing room (on Sunday, when he was batting on 156) I saw a number of messages that said ‘first score a double and then aim for the triple’. I was very happy to see some many people cheering for me despite all the controversies I have gone through.”
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Last month, Tiwary had asked India selector Gandhi to leave the Bengal change room. Tiwary, who has played 12 ODIs and three T20Is, was removed from captaincy this term. Tiwary said being unsold at the IPL auction in December is a “harsh reality” that is “difficult to digest.”
“The franchises look for something which, in their eyes, I might not provide. My job is to score runs and play according to the situation be it T20, or any other form. (But it) feels bad when so many youngsters are playing and I am at home watching games,” said Tiwary.