Sourav flies to three digits

The Rajasthan batsmen didn’t learn from the mistakes they made on the first day, once again paying for adopting a carefree approach. In an encore of the first innings, too many shots were attempted that were never really there, and Bengal reduced them to 101 for 4. Yet again, it was young inswing specialist Sourav Sarkar (2 for 39) who gave Paras Mhambrey & Co the early inroads. Just when it appeared that the Bengal pace attack would finish off the match by today itself, the experienced duo of stumper Rohit Jhalani (batting on 62) and Nikhil Doru (batting on 60) stemmed the rot, adding 101 runs for the fifth wicket. At stumps, Rajasthan were 202 for 4 with both Doru and Jhalani batting on comfortably and their team trailing by 188 runs.

“Hopefully, in another session and a half we will wrap up the match,” Bengal captain Deep Dasgupta said after the day’s play.

For the fans though, much of the day’s entertainment came in the first two hours when Ganguly went about the task of converting his overnight 72-run knock into the much-anticipated century.

Coming out to bat with Tewari, Ganguly carted the stingless Rajasthan bowling around with elan, reaching the ton in no time. With the Bengal total quickly going past the 500-run mark — courtesy some lusty hitting by the former Indian captain in the V-region — the declaration was imminent.

Tewari, of course, will rue missing out on a double century as he holed out off Shailender Gehlot. Soon, the local hero, too, perished trying to clear the field over long-on off an otherwise unimpressive left-arm spinner Sumit Khatri.

Brief scores: Rajasthan 193 & 202/4 in 63 overs (Rohit Jhalani batting 62, Nikhil Doru batting 60) v Bengal 583/6 decl in 144 overs (M Tewari 181, S Ganguly 122, A Jhunjhunwala 115).