Kolkata, Feb 1 (UNI) Abhimanyu Easwaran (77) and Sudip Kumar Gharami (68) displayed a dominant show with the bat to put Bengal in a commanding position against Jharkhand at stumps on Day 2 in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
After bowling Jharkhand out for just 173, Bengal were 238/5 at the end of the second day with a crucial 65-run first-innings lead.
Earlier, the home side began their proceedings on Day 2 on a cautious note, courtesy of openers Easwaran and Kazi Junaid Saifi (1).
But Kazi, in sublime form lately, was unlucky to head back to the pavilion after being judged leg-before off the bowling of Ashish Kumar in the ninth over of the day.
From there on, Easwaran and incoming batter Gharami combined well to add a much-needed 136-run partnership for the second wicket to put the home side in touching distance of claiming a first-innings lead.
Both batsmen, who looked determined to score yet another ton, fell cheaply in quick succession to reduce Bengal to 159/3.
After their dismissal, senior pros Anustup (25) Majumdar and skipper Manoj Tiwary (13) were off to a fine start but failed to convert it into big ones.
Abishek Porel (25) and Shahbaz Ahmed (17) kept their cool to remain unbeaten at the end of the day, hoping to help the team gather a huge lead on the third day.
For Jharkhand, Supriyo Chakraborty bagged two wickets while Ashish, Anukul Roy and Shahbaz Nadeem clinched one each.
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