RANJI TROPHY | Bengal has the advantage after Mukesh and Jaiswal’s superlative bowling

Bengal dominates Bihar on day 1 of Ranji Trophy match with impressive bowling performance and strong batting.

Seamers Mukesh Kumar and Suraj Jaiswal took four wickets apiece to provide Bengal an upper hand against Bihar on the opening day of their final Ranji Trophy Group-B match at the Eden Gardens here on Friday.

Determined to give skipper Manoj Tiwary a deserving farewell, the host rode on Mukesh and Jaiswal’s dominating performances to bundle out Bihar, which was asked to bat, for a paltry 95.

Led by opener Abhimanyu Easwaran’s unbeaten 48 (69b, 6x4), Bengal was at 111 for two, with a 16-run lead, at stumps.

On a greenish track, Bengal’s pacers were too good for Bihar’s batters.

Jaiswal drew first blood by trapping Piyush Singh in front in the second over.

Mangal Mahrour and Rishav Raj held fort for some time before first-change bowler Mohammad Kaif had the former caught behind in the 13th over.

Returning from India duty, Mukesh made further inroads as he bowled Bipin Saurabh in the next over. He bowled a good line to scalp a patient Rishav, Sakibul Gani and Veer Pratap Singh in a miserly performance.