Jharkhand in the driver's seat after Kumar Kushagra and Virat Singh hit centuries

Quick centuries from middle-order batters Kumar Kushagra and Virat Singh helped Jharkhand score 402 for the loss of five wickets on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy pre-quarter-final against Nagaland at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

The two added 175 for the fifth wicket in less than 36 overs, both finding the boundary almost at will - 17-year-old Kushagra hit 16 fours and a six, and Virat hit 13 fours.

While wicketkeeper-batter Kushagra got to his landmark off just 105 balls, Virat reached his second century of the season, after getting 103 in a tight win against Delhi, from 141 deliveries, as Nagaland lost the grip after four wickets halfway into the day. And despite left-arm spinner Imliwati Lemtur breaking the stand with the end of the day approaching, Kushagra, who ended unbeaten on 112, and No. 7 Anukul Roy took Jharkhand past 400 in only 87 overs of play.

Both Kushagra and Virat, who fell for 107, rode their luck during the aggressive stand. With Virat on 78, his attempted loft over the covers in the 66th over landed just wide of a fielder's outstretched hands. And two overs later, when Kushagra was on 44, he was dropped by the midwicket fielder, who only had to move slightly to his left to reach the ball. This, after he was also put down on 10.

Earlier, all of Jharkhand's top six got off to starts but Kumar Suraj's 66 was the best effort. Like Kushagra and Virat after him, Suraj was positive at the crease, hitting 11 fours and a six in his innings of 91 balls. But the base was set by the openers Nazim Siddiqui and Utkarsh Singh, who started with 60 in the first 14 overs before right-arm quick Chopise Hopongkyu broke through.

Nagaland tried seven bowlers on the day, five of whom got a wicket each, while as many conceded at least four runs an over to the opposition batters.