Pujara surpasses Merchant’s record
innings.
Profligate with the new ball initially, India pacer Mohammed Shami (2/74) got his sting back when the ball got old and ended Priyanshu Khanduri’s 120-ball vigil at the crease for 52 runs.
In space of two balls, Ashoke Dinda (2/39) removed the in-form Nikhil Gangta for a cheap 24 before bad light stopped play at 39.3 overs with the group D leaders trailing by 256 runs.
Resuming the day on 306/5, Bengal made steady progress as Tiwary notched up his 24th firstclass century and first of this season. Tiwary found fine support in Shreevats Goswami as the duo looked in control in their 64-run partnership till the latter was trapped by Pankaj Jaiswal (3/83).
Bengal innings folded just after the lunch as Rishi Dhawan (4/86) and Jaiswal wipped the tail but not before they crossed the 400-mark with Mohammed Shami hitting a 22-ball 26.
In reply, Himachal were reduced to 9/1 with Dinda dismissing Prashant Chopra (6) in the third over, but after that skipper Sumeet Verma (64) and Khanduri looked in control to lay a solid foundation.
BOWLERS TOIL
Bengal bowlers struggled to get any help from the wicket as Verma and Khanduri added 92 runs for the second wicket before Mukesh Kumar gave the breakthrough dismissing the Himachal captain.
Shami looked lacklustre and got his first wicket in the ninth over and conceded 74. But Khanduri looked dogged and completed his fifty in 107 balls with fine support from Nikhil Gangta. The duo, however, could not consolidate as Shami trapped Khanduri before Dinda swung the match in Bengal’s favour.