Kolkata, Jan 31 (UNI) A superb performance by the bowlers led by Akash Deep helped Bengal bowl Jharkhand out for just 173 in their first innings on Day 1 in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
Akash Deep (4-62), Mukesh Kumar (3-61), Ishan Porel (1-26) and Akash Ghatak (1-15) impressed with the ball for Bengal.
For Jharkhand, Kumar Suraj was the star batsman, top-scoring with a fighting unbeaten 89.
Earlier, put into bat, Jharkhand was on the back foot after being reduced to 31/2 inside 12 overs.
Akash Deep was outstanding with the new ball, dismissing both the openers for low scores.
But Kumar Suraj came in to play a handy knock, adding some vital runs for the visitors.
While Suraj scored a much-needed half-century, other batters found the going tough against a quality seam bowling line-up of Bengal.
Akash Deep and Mukesh combined well to take wickets at regular intervals to put Jharkhand in a spot of bother at 77/5.
Later on, Pankaj Kumar (21) added some vital runs but his stay in the middle was a short one.
Although wickets kept tumbling at the other end, reducing the visitors to 150/8, Suraj stood tall, piling on some quick runs for his side.
Suraj was unlucky to miss out on a hundred as Jharkhand's innings folded in the 67th over of the day.
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