KOLKATA: For the first time in three days, Bengal dominated a session as they fought desperately to keep their hopes afloat against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy final at the Eden Gardens here on Saturday. Old warhorse Manoj Tiwary once again showed the way stitching together a 99-run fourth-wicket stand with Anushtup Majumder (61) after the visitors took a healthy 230-run lead before being bowled out for 404 runs in the morning.
At stumps on Day 3, Bengal did well to stay alive finishing at 169 for four, still 61 runs behind Saurashtra's total with Tiwary unbeaten on 57. Needing to not only zero out the deficit but also set up a challenging total for Saurashtra to force a favourable result, Bengal once again made a shaky start in the second innings losing both the openers and one-down Sudip Gharami to be reduced to 47 for three by the 16th over. But it was Tiwary who led from the front, keeping his team on a possible comeback tra il, and got support from seasoned campaigner Majumder.
