Maharasthra trail Bengal by 100 runs

Pune: Riding on Abhishek Jhunjhunwala`s 95 and Manoj Tiwary`s 88, Bengal piled up 325 runs in their first innings in reply to Maharsahtra`s 179 at the end of second day`s play in their four-day Super League Group B Ranji Trophy match here today.

Maharshtra, in their second essay, were 46 for no loss with Harshad Khadiwale batting on 24 and Rohan Bhosale on 15, thereby trailing Bengal by 100 runs.

Earlier, starting at the overnight score of 52 for two, Tiwari notched up vital partnerships with Wriddhiman Saha (26), Rohan Gavaskar (23), Laxmi Ratan Shukla (24) and Jhunjhunwala`s to guide Bengal to 325.

Tiwary finnaly fell to pacer Sajin Sureshnath, edging one to wicketkeeper Rohit Motwani with Bengal scoreboard reading 221 for six. He struck 13 fours and two sixes during his 174 ball stay at the crease.

Jhunjhunwala then took over from where Tiway and made a 122-ball 95 to see Bengal cross the 300-run mark before he became the last batsman to depart, caught by Ameya Shrikhande off Kiran Ramling Adhav. He hit 13 fours and a lone six.

For Maharashtra Samad Fallah was the pick of the bowlers, scalping four wickets for 102 runs, while Sureshnath and Azhar Ansari got two victims each.

Brief Scores:

Maharashtra: 1st innings 179 all out; 2nd innings 46 for no loss (H Khadiwale 24 not out, R Bhosale 15).

Bengal: 1st innings 325 all out in 105.3 overs (M Tiwary 88, A Jhunjhunwala 95; S Fallah 4/102).

Bureau Report