Jaipur, Dec 7 (PTI) Opener Abhimanyu Easwaran showed hismettle under pressure as his patient 129 enabled Bengal toscore 261/6 at stumps on the first day of their Ranji Trophyquarter-final against defending champions Gujarat.
Courtesy Easwaran's sixth first-class hundred and his175-run stand for the fifth wicket with veteran AnushtupMajumdar (94), Bengal's score had a semblance ofrespectability after being reduced to 59 for 4 at one stage.
Easwaran, who is on national selection committee's radar,showed perfect big match temperament as he fished his team outof troubled waters. His 246-ball knock had 17 boundaries.
It was the second new ball that did the trick as he edgedone off Chintan Gaja (2/75 in 20 overs) to Samit Gohil.
With Bengal playing five specialist bowlers on a greenishSawai Man Singh track, the tail-enders would now need to getthe team past 300-run mark.
Abhishek Raman (5) and No. 3 Writtick Chatterjee (4) werequickly dismissed by Ishwar Chaudhary (3/49), while Gajatrapped Manoj Tiwary plumb in front.
Majumdar and Easwaran then resurrected the innings asthey played the two spinners -- left arm orthodox SiddharthDesai (1/67) and leg spinner Piyush Chawla (0/43) without muchfuss.
Majumdar, who has been in good form since his comeback,faced 177 balls, hitting 11 fours. In order to reach hishundred quickly, Majumdar was stumped by Desai.
Getting Easwaran's wicket at the fag end put thedefending champions in driver's seat, considering that Gujarathave a far superior batting line up comprising skipper ParthivPatel, prolific opening duo of Priyank Panchal and Samit Gohelalong with Rujul Bhatt.
Brief Scores:Bengal 1st innings: 261/6 (Abhimanyu Easwaran 129,Anushtup Majumdar 94, Ishwar Chaudhary 3/49, Chintan Gaja2/75) vs Gujarat. PTI KHS CMCM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.