By Admin 
Prashant Chopra and captain Kunal Chandela’s dogged fifties in the second innings enabled Uttarakhand to put up a good fight against Bengal on the penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy Group-C match at the Eden Gardens here on Friday.
The visitors overcame the setback of losing opener Avneesh Sudha, who was caught in the slips to become Akash Deep’s first scalp, in the second over to close the day at 165 for two in its second essay and stay ahead by 55 runs.
Earlier, Bengal, resuming at 274 for six, finished at 323 to take a first innings lead of 110 runs.
In the morning, Sumanta Gupta returned to the home pavilion without adding anything to his overnight 82 as pacer Devendra Bora completed his maiden five-for to finish with figures of six for 79. However, the Bengal tail-enders made useful contributions and gathered 49 runs as the host’s lead crossed 100.
On a slow track that tested the patience and discipline of both batters and bowlers, Prashant (82, 163b, 10×4) and Chandela (68 batting, 203b, 8×4) adapted well and played deliveries on merit through a slow grind. Their 146-run partnership resisted Bengal’s ambition for an outright win.
Chandela, who held one end and gathered most of his runs through ones, got his boundaries predominantly on the leg-side.
Prashant, a former Himachal player making his first class debut for Uttarakhand, cut and drove well for his boundaries even though his primary focus was to work the ball around. He was trapped in front by left-arm spinner Vishal Bhati in the final hour.
The Bengal bowlers, including the star duo of Mohammed Shami and Akash, worked hard without much assistance from the surface. Shami, who bowled 15 overs in four spells including a second spell of five overs, had a better line and length and emerged as the most economical of the home bowlers.
The scores:
Uttarakhand — 1st innings: 213.
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 b Bora 82, Vishal Bhati b Rajan 15, Suraj Jaiswal (not out) 20, Akash Deep c Avneesh b Bora 19, Mohammed Shami c Avneesh b Janmejay 10, Ishan Porel lbw b Suchith 0; Extras (b-1, lb-4, nb-1, w-2): 8; Total (in 108.5 overs): 323.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-20, 3-63, 4-98, 5-254, 6-274, 7-274, 8-294, 9-322.
Uttarakhand bowling: Bora 25-4-79-6, Rajan 16-1-60-1, Janmejay 15-2-42-1, Negi 21.4-4-52-0, Avneesh 12.2-0-33-1, Suchith 15.5-1-40-1, Dangwal 3-0-12-0.
Uttarakhand — 2nd innings: Avneesh Sudha c Chatterjee b Akash 1, Prashant Chopra lbw b Bhati 82, Kunal Chandela (batting) 68, Bhupen Lalwani (batting) 12; Extras (lb-1, w-1): 2; Total (for two wkts. in 67 overs): 165.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-147.
Bengal bowling: Shami 15-4-21-0, Akash 13-3-39-1, Ishan 12-2-39-0, Jaiswal 13-4-26-0, Bhati 14-1-39-1.