In an astonishing scene, Bengal captain Manoj Tiwary placed nine fielders in the slips, during their Group D Ranji Trophy match against Chhattisgarh. It was after the Chhattisgarh side had lost it’s 9-wickets while chasing Bengal’s first innings total of 529, that Tiwary moved-in his fielders, to wrap the innings quickly.
Tiwary was soon rewarded for his shrewd and unusual thinking, as Chhattisgarh was bundled-out for for a mere 110 runs. The unfortunate batsman falling prey to this field placing was Pankaj Rao. After this, the team was invited to bat again, after Bengal enforced the follow-on. Bengal won this match by an innings and 160 runs.
Way back in 1999, Aussie skipper Steve Waugh also had placed 9 slip fielders in an ODI against Zimbabwe. Waugh has been considered as one of the greatest captain world cricket has ever seen.
