Bengal seizes advantage on Day one of Ranji

Kolkata, Dec 25 (UNI) A face saving 99-run seventh wicket partnership helped Maharashtra reach 171 for seven on a day when Bengal's Sourav Sarkar made a memorable Ranji trophy debut here today , chipping in four wickets.

Maharashtra won the toss and elected to bat and immediately went on to the backfoot being reduced to nine for two wickets.

Sourav Sarkar began the day breathing fire having both openers in his kitty. Ranadeb Bose, at the other end, accounted for Hrisikesh Kanitkar to break the top order of Maharashtra batting.

S Sriram held one end as heads kept rolling at the other end. It was he and Satbhai who added 99 runs for the seventh wicket to add some respectability to the Maharashtra total.

The day ended with Sriram unbeaten on 51, aided by seven boundaries.

Satbhai made 48 with seven boundaries leading a charmed life as he was dropped thrice by the Bengal butter-fingered fielders.

Sourav Sarkar's figures at the end of the day read four for 38 with a miserly economy rate of two. Ranadeb Bose was his consistent self, scalping two.

With the match poised in Bengal's favour, captain Deep Dasgupta will be going for an outrifght win if Bengal can overhaul the tally and establish the first innings lead. In the last tie, Bengal frittered away the advantage to Gujarat and conceded a first innings lead from a position of advantage.

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