Bengal all-rounder Laxmi Ratan Shukla played a fine knock of 82 to lead Bengal to a modest total of 246 against Assam on the first day of the Elite Group B Ranji Trophy match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday.

Shukla, who has been quite consistent with the bat this season, put on 130 runs in a fourth wicket partnership with Nikhil Haldipur (67) to rally the hosts after the Assam bowlers picked quick wickets in the morning session.

Bengal, who are looking for full points from this match, got themselves into trouble after Assam pacer Gautam Dutta snared three top order batsmen with only 22 runs on the board.

Shukla, who joined opener Haldipur in the middle, eased the pressure while hitting 12 fours and a six on way a compact innings of 82. He, however, was unfortunate to be run-out by Orland Konar.

Haldipur, who ably supported Shukla, had 12 hits to the fence, but was dismissed on 67, being caught by V Sarvanand off R Raghuram.

With the two leaving the crease, the Bengal innings soon collapsed and ended 246 in 76.3 overs.

Among the Assam bowlers, Dutta scalped three wickets while Konar gave the finishing touches, scalping three tail-enders.

In reply, Assam were 33 for one at close. While skipper Parag Das was unbeaten at the crease on 15, Subhrajit Saikia was out off the last ball of the day as play was called off early due to bad light.

Scoreboard

Bengal (1^st innings):
A Chakraborty b G Dutta 0
N Haldipur C V Sarvanan b R Raghuram 67
D Gandhi lbw G Dutta 0
S Das lbw G Dutta 10
L R Shukla run out 82
S Sanyal lbw M Ingty 6
A Roy c Z Zuffri b A Konwar 30
U Chaterjee c R Raghuram b M Ingty 5
S Lahiri c S Singh b A Konwar 36
R Bose not out 0
S S Paul c S Singh b A Konwar 1

Extras: (b-2, lb-5, w-2) 9

Total: (all out in 76.3 overs) 246

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-22, 4-152, 5-167, 6-173, 7-180, 8-235, 9-244.

Bowling: G Dutta 13-6-36-3, M Ingty 15-4-48-2, P Das 6-2-32-0, R Satish 3-2-5-0, R Raghuram 20-2-62-1, S Singh 2-0-12-0, A Konwar 13.3-3-30-3, K Pawar 4-0-14-0.

Assam (1st innings): 
P Das  batting 15
S Saikia c N Haldipur b S S Paul 17

Extras: (lb-1) 1

Total: (for one wkt, in 10.4 overs) 33

Fall of wicket: 1-33

Bowling: S S Paul 4.4-1-21-1; R Bose 3-0-11-0; U Chatterjee 2-2-0-0; S Lahiri 1-1-0-0.