Bengal skipper Manoj Tiwary won the toss for the first time this season, but the batsmen let the advantage of batting first on a fresh wicket slip by folding up in two seasons.
The Punjab bowlers were steady but not unplayable and the wicket did not have any major demons. Yet Bengal were bowled out for 187 only at tea break. At stumps, Punjab were placed comfortably at 47 for two.
However, all is not lost for Bengal as the match looks to be heading for an outright result and the hosts can still make a comeback on a wicket where surviving the fourth innings will be difficult.
Left-arm spinner Vinay Choudhary, who came in place of pacer Baltej Singh, did the maximum damage ending up with a carrier-best six for 62 from his 20.1 overs. But it was pacer Manpreet Gony who drew first blood by having openers Abhishek Raman and Abhimanyu Easwaran early in the morning. While the former was caught at first slip by Gurkeerat Mann, the later was trapped in front by missing the line while trying to play across the line.
Spin was introduced after the first drinks break in the 15th over and Choudhary struck in his second over when he had Tiwary caught while trying going for an expansive drive at first slip by Mandeep Singh.
Anushtup Majumder, who was instrumental in helping Bengal script a memorable win in the last match against Delhi, pulled Mayank Markande for a four, but the leg-spinner had him in the next delivery as Majumder failed to keep his sweep on the ground and Shubman Gill took a well-judged catch running backward.
Choudhary trapped Writtick Chatterjee in front in the first ball of the next over to reduce Bengal to 53 for five.
Two left-handers Sudip Chatterjee and Shreevats Goswami then steadied the ship with a 65-run sixth-wicket stand. But Choudhary proved more devastating in the post lunch session when he claimed four for 41 from his 9.1 overs’ second spell.
Chatterjee, who looked comfortable for the first time this season, once again fell to a poor shot for 52 when he stretched forward to reach a wide outside the off-stump ball only to edge it to Mandeep at first slip in Choudhary’s first over after lunch.
Pradipta Pramanik started playing his shots after the quick dismissal of Aamir Goni. He pulled Gony for a six but was caught behind the next ball getting an edge while trying to avoid a rising delivery.
Goswami, who came in the side after three matches in place of Agniv Pan, was the only Bengal batsman who attacked the bowlers. But running out of partners, he stepped out to Choudhary but ended up giving a simple catch to Ammolpreet Singh at mid-wicket. The wicketkeeper-batsman made 57 with four fours and one six off Choudhary.
Ashok Dinda used his long handle to get some quick runs. He hit Choudhary for consecutive sixes but was bowled in his next over.
Youngster Shubman Gill once again built up the Punjab innings. He started off slowly but once he settled down his free-flowing stroke-making kept the scoreboard ticking.
Pacer Mukesh Kumar pegged them back by claiming opener Jiwanjot Singh and nightwatchman Markande in consecutive deliveries. But Gill with Anmolpreet Singh prevented any further damages.
Be the first to comment