Tamil Nadu received a big jolt after skipper R Prasanna retired hurt following an on-field collision as Bengal put up an allround batting show to gain the upper hand in their Ranji Trophy cricket Group A cricket match at Eden Gardens, here today.
Prasanna "aggravated" his back injury after completing 50 when he collided with Bengal pacer Ashok Dinda while running from the non-striking end. He had to be stretchered off the field.
The captain could not take the field again and Tamil Nadu's innings folded for 246/9 in 88.4 overs. The skipper said he is doubtful to take field again in the match.
In reply, Bengal were 183/2, trailing Tamil Nadu by 63 runs with Manoj Tiwary playing the sheet anchor role with an unbeaten on 54 from 61 balls (9x4), while youngster Abhimanyu Easwaran was batting on 41 (75 balls; 8x4).
The collision happened in the last ball of 84th over when Dinda tried to cross the pitch to collect the ball at the mid-on region and collided with Prasanna who was responding to Mohammed's call for a single.
After managing to complete the run Prasanna lay on the pitch and was soon stretchered off the field before being rushed to the hospital.
"It seems I've aggravated my back injury. It looks doubtful for me to play again in the second innings," Prasanna said after the match limping to the team bus with the help of his teammates.
Nothing went right for Tamil Nadu as they would lament dropping a regulation catch of Tiwary at second slip by K Bharath Shankar.
Barring the blip, the Bengal batsman was all elegance and looked untroubled in his 81-run partnership with Easwaran.
Bengal started out with a positive manner with openers Arindam Das and Rohan Banerjee putting on the foundation with a 74-run partnership.
Debutant left-arm quick T Natarjan got his maiden first class scalp by dismissing Banerjee who got a thick edge to second slip to be out for 27 from 83 balls.
Veteran seamer Laxmipathy Balaji claimed the scalp of Das to deny him a half-century by two runs before the tea break.
But Tiwary looked unperturbed and played strokes all around the wicket cruising to his 18th first class half-century in 59 balls as the visitors looked to be running out of ideas.
Brief Scores
Tamil Nadu 246/9; 88.4 overs (R Prasanna 50 retired hurt; Ashok Dinda 4/76).
Bengal 183/2; 52 overs (Manoj Tiwary 54 batting, Abhimanyu Easwaran 41 batting, Arindam Das 48). Match to continue.
