Chatterjee and Gupta rotated the strike well in their big partnership.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Bengal rode on Sudip Chatterjee and Sumanta Gupta’s responsible half-centuries to secure the first innings lead against Uttarakhand on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Group-C match at the Eden Gardens here on Thursday. Resuming on eight for one, Bengal scored 274 for six to earn a crucial 61-run lead when the day’s play ended with the fall of Vishal Bhati.
Bengal lost Sudip Gharami early as Devendra Bora had him caught behind. Chatterjee and Anustup Majumdar added 43 runs before the latter was adjudged leg-before off Bora. Vice-captain Abishek Porel spoiled his good start by pulling Avneesh Sudha to mid-wicket on the stroke of lunch.
On a two-paced pitch with low bounce, the left-right pair of Chatterjee and Gupta showed intent and patience to build an important 156-run stand to steer Bengal out of a tricky situation and put it in a position of strength. Playing the anchor’s role for six hours and 41 minutes, Chatterjee (98, 264b, 12×4) gathered runs cautiously with a strike rate of 37.12. The left-hander prioritised singles, but he also played handsome drives, cuts and flicks to get his boundaries.
Gupta (82 batting, 149b, 7×4) rotated the strike well even though he rarely got his runs in front of the stumps. Most of his fours came on the off-side.
The all-important fifth-wicket stand helped Bengal surpass Uttarakhand’s 213 early in the final session. With Chatterjee moving into the 90s, the action became even more dull as Uttarakhand bowlers chose a line that denied the Bengal batters scoring opportunities.
After Uttarakhand took the new ball, Chatterjee played a poor shot, flicking Bora to fine-leg boundary, to depart on a note of disappointment. Bora, the most successful touring bowler, hit an ideal length and got some movement to capture four wickets so far and better his previous best (three for 40).
The 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.
Published – October 16, 2025 06:48 pm IST
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