Bengal seized a commanding first innings lead against Uttarakhand on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Group-C encounter at the iconic Eden Gardens. This strong position was largely orchestrated by the disciplined half-centuries of Sudip Chatterjee and Sumanta Gupta. By the close of play, with the dismissal of Vishal Bhati, Bengal had amassed 274 for six, securing a vital 61-run advantage.
The day began with Bengal on eight for one, and they soon faced early setbacks. Sudip Gharami was caught behind off Devendra Bora, who continued to trouble the batsmen. Though Sudip Chatterjee and Anustup Majumdar built a 43-run partnership, Majumdar fell leg-before to Bora. Vice-captain Abishek Porel also squandered a promising start, pulling Avneesh Sudha to mid-wicket just before lunch.
Despite a two-paced pitch offering low bounce, the left-handed Chatterjee and right-handed Gupta demonstrated impressive intent and patience. Their crucial 156-run alliance skillfully guided Bengal out of a precarious situation, firmly placing the home side in a position of strength. Chatterjee, playing the anchor, spent six hours and 41 minutes at the crease, accumulating 98 runs from 264 balls, including 12 fours. His cautious approach saw him prioritize singles, but he also unleashed elegant drives, precise cuts, and well-timed flicks to find the boundary.
Sumanta Gupta, who remained unbeaten on 82 from 149 balls with 7 fours, expertly rotated the strike. While his scoring shots rarely came directly in front of the stumps, many of his boundaries were struck effortlessly on the off-side, showcasing his skillful placement.
The vital fifth-wicket stand enabled Bengal to comfortably surpass Uttarakhand’s total of 213 early in the final session. As Chatterjee neared his century, the pace of play slowed considerably, with Uttarakhand’s bowlers adopting a defensive line to restrict scoring opportunities. However, after the new ball was taken, Chatterjee unfortunately played a poor flick to the fine-leg boundary, departing for 98. Devendra Bora, the most effective bowler for Uttarakhand, maintained an ideal length and extracted good movement throughout the innings, finishing with a career-best four wickets.
Scores:
Uttarakhand — 1st innings: 213 in 72.5 overs.
Bengal — 1st innings: Abhimanyu Easwaran c Chopra b Bora 0, Sudip Chatterjee c Suchith b Bora 98, Sudip Gharami c Chopra b Bora 15, Anustup Majumdar lbw b Bora 35, Abishek Porel c Janmejay b Avneesh 21, Sumanta Gupta (batting) 82, Vishal Bhati b Rajan 15; Extras: (b-1, lb-4, nb-1, w-2): 8; Total (for six wkts. in 92.5 overs): 274.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-20, 3-63, 4-98, 5-254, 6-274.
Uttarakhand bowling: Bora 19-2-65-4, Rajan 13.5-1-45-1, Janmejay 13-1-37-0, Negi 16.4-4-38-0, Avneesh 12.2-0-33-1, Suchith 15-1-39-0, Dangwal 3-0-12-0.