Haldipur, Lahiri in 296-run opening stand

Bengal openers Nikhil Haldipur and Alokendu Lahiri tore apart the Bihar bowling on the opening day of their East Zone Ranji Trophy league match at the Eden Gardens on Wednesday. The two put on 296 runs off 61.4 overs which provided the perfect springboard for Bengal's closing score of 390 for three off 89.1 overs.

Bengal captain Devang Gandhi won a good toss and Haldipur and Lahiri made the most of ideal conditions and an amiable attack. Bihar have not had a very fruitful season, having garnered only eight points from three matches so far and they could do little to curb the run hungry duo. Both Haldipur and Lahiri continued along their merry way until Haldipur was out, caught by Sahid Khan off Tariqur Rehman for 153. Haldipur faced 199 balls and hit 20 fours and two sixes. In the next over, Lahiri gave Nikhilesh Ranjan a return catch. For his 130, Lahiri faced 184 balls and hit 16 fours and two sixes.

Veteran Srikant Kalyani did not last long and was out for ten with the total on 328. But Devang Gandhi, who had come in at the fall of the first wicket and Rohan Gavaskar (12) then shared an unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 62 runs off 15.3 overs to put Bengal in a position of considerable comfort at stumps. Gandhi by close had faced 94 balls for his 63 and had hit nine fours and a six.