Bihar snatch narrow first innings lead

Agartala: Tripura lost their last four wickets without the addition of a run enabling Bihar to snatch a narrow first innings lead of two runs over Tripura on the second day of the East Zone Ranji Trophy league match here on Saturday.

Resuming at 25 for one in reply to Bihar's first innings total of 174, Tripura lost wickets at regular intervals and were badly placed at 112 for six. Prajapati and Chowdhuri then figured in a seventh wicket stand of 60 runs which brought Tripura tantalisingly close to taking the lead. At 172 for 7, Tripura seemed well set to take the lead. Then came the sudden collapse. First, Chowdhuri was bowled by Saxena for 34. Off the third ball of the next over bowled by Dhiraj Kumar, Alok Saha was run out. Off the next delivery S.Bose was leg before for zero. And two balls later, IS Ghosh was also out leg before for zero leaving Prajapati unbeaten with 37. Prajapati batted patiently for 254 minutes and faced 186 balls without hitting even one boundary. The last four Tripura wickets fell in 11 balls for no run.