KOLKATA, Nov 18 (PTI): Career-best knocks by Laxmi Ratan Shukla (250) and Wriddhiman Saha (178 not out) put Bengal in a commanding position as the hosts declared their first innings for 562 for six against Assam in their Ranji Trophy Super League at Eden Gardens here today.
Resuming at 257 for five, Bengal benefitted most from a Shukla dropped chance behind the stumps on 78 as they made mincemeat of a listless Assam attack on a frustrating second day for the opponents.
Shukla was again dropped twice by Assam glovesman Kunal Saikia after completing his century, while Saha got a breather at first slip when on 64 as the two piled on misery for their opponents in a 417-run stand � all time third highest first-class partnership for the sixth wicket.
Batting at No. 7, the former Bengal skipper put up a disciplined batting display before demolishing the Assam attack and notched up his best score in his 100th first-class match.
Shukla struck three sixes and 35 boundaries in his 481 minute innings from 355 balls, while wicketkeeper-batmsan Saha extended the senior-most Bengal pro perfect support in his knock studded with two sixes and 15 fours (516 minutes, 355 balls). If yesterday�s unbroken partnership was all about building the Bengal innings brick-by-brick, Shukla and Saha today made Assam bowlers run for cover as the duo ruled supreme barring the few odd chances.
SCORECARD
Bengal 1st innings: Arindam Das c Saikia b Ahmed 30, SP Goswami c Goswami b Mali 12, AA Jhunjhunwala c Saikia b Goswami 1, MK Tiwary c Saikia b Mali 50, WS Porel b Konwar 12, WP Saha not out 178, LR Shukla b Sriram 250, SS Lahiri not out 6. Extras: (b 4, lb 7, w 1, nb 11) 23. Total (6 wickets dec; 167 overs) 562. Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-42, 3-58, 4-114, 5-126, 6-543. Bowling: AN Ahmed 35-12-101-1, RL Mali 31-9-79-2, DS Goswami 24-6-57-1, A Konwar 43-9-174-1, S Sriram 22-3-82-1, G Sharma 4-0-22, Tarjinder Singh 8-0-36-0.
Assam 1st innings: DS Jadhav not out 10, SA Roy not out 0. Extras: 0. Total: (0 wickets; 4 overs) 10. Bowling: RR Bose 1-0-3-0, Shami Ahmed 1-0-7-0, SS Lahiri 1-1-0-0, AA Jhunjhunwala 1-1-0-0.
