Delhi looked in some sort of discomfort at home turf for the first time this season as they reached 100 for three in reply to Bengal's 357 on the second day of their Ranji Trophy group league cricket encounter, here today.
On a tricky Kotla surface with variable bounce, Ashoke Dinda (1-27) removed Gautam Gambhir (0) leg before in the very first over as the India discard was beaten for pace.
Veteran left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha (1/28) then dismissed Gambhir's deputy Unmukt Chand (13) with a ball that kept low and caught him plumb in-front.
Debutant Risabh Panth (28) looked in flowing touch as he tonked Ojha for a straight six and hit some elegant drives off Dinda.
Just when he was looking set, indiscretion cost him as he tried to cut a Veer Pratap Singh (1-17) delivery edging one to Wriddhiman Saha behind the stumps.
However young left-hander Nitish Rana (30 batting) continued his consistent form adding 44 runs for the fourth wicket with Milind Kumar (20 batting)
Earlier, Bengal could not capitalise on their overnight score of 272 for three as they lost their seven wickets in one and half sessions with addition of 85 runs to finish their first innings in 135.5 overs.
The slide started in 96th over when Parvinder Awana (1-55) castled Sudeep Chatterjee (116) after he had hit 12 boundaries. The partnership with Wriddhiman (72) yielded 155 runs.
Next over, it was poor calling from Pankaj Shaw (5) that saw Wriddhiman head back to the pavilion. Pankaj was brilliantly caught by Rishabh Pant off Sumit Narwal (1-54).
While Veer Pratap and Aamir Gani contributed 26 each, Bengal couldn't get to 400. Pradeep Sangwan (4-48) was the most successful bowler for Delhi.
Bengal coach Sairaj Bahutule was "disappointed" with batting performance.
"There was a silly run-out (Wriddhiman) and we should have got 450 plus. I am not happy with batsmen's performance but bowlers did a good job. The ball is turning and let's hope we have a good day tomorrow," Bahutule said.
Brief Scores: Bengal 357 (Sudeep Chatterjee 116, Wriddhiman Saha 72, Manoj Tiwary 55; Pradeep Sangwan 4-48)
Delhi 1st Innings 100/3 (Nitish Rana 30 batting; Pragyan Ojha 1-28, Ashoke Dinda 1-27, Veer Pratap Singh 1-17).
