Sayan Sekhar Mondal continued with his impressive form after being promoted to opening slot but three quick wickets pegged Bengal back as they were restricted to 191 for four by hosts Assam in an all-important final group A league encounter of the Ranji Trophy, here today.
Put into bat, left-handed Sayan struck his third consecutive half-century scoring a well-compiled 87 as he added 140 runs for the second wicket with another in-form batsman Sudeep Chatterjee (65).
76 overs of play was possible on the day due to fading light which is a common phenomenon in the eastern part of India.
However, the young duo could never force the pace as they batted together for 48.2 overs. After scores of 56 and 58 against Vidarbha and Maharashtra, Sayan's 87 came off 193 balls with 10 boundaries. Sudeep's innings was a bit more sedate as his 65 came off 151 balls with seven boundaries to his credit.
It was off-break bowler Gokul Sharma, whose straighter found Chatterjee's pads.
Sayan, who had by then crawled towards his maiden three figure mark saw part-time leggie Amit Verma bowl one straight and was caught plumb in-front.
Skipper Manoj Tiwary was then caught by verma for 12 off seamer Krishna Das, who had earlier accounted for opener Abhimanyu Easwaran (8) in his first spell.
From 148 for one, it soon became 176 for four before comeback man Laxmi Ratan Shukla (12 batting) and Shreevats Goswami (3 batting) saw off the remaining overs.
Brief Scores: Bengal 1st innings 191/4 (Sayan sekhar Mondal 87, Sudeep Chatterjee 65, Krishna Das 2/39) vs Assam.
