Riding on a scintillating ton by opener Arindam Das and a gritty 90 by captain Devang Gandhi, West Bengal gained a crucial 96 runs lead over Gujarat on the second day of Elite Group 'B' Ranji Trophy match at Sardar Patel Stadium in Motera, Ahmedabad.

Resuming at the overnight score of 35-0, Bengal reached a total of 275 for the loss of four wickets with Das unconquered on 117.

The visitors were at one time reduced to 92 for three but Das, who hit 14 boundaries, and Gandhi (90) put up a 161-run partnership for the fourth wicket before leg spinner Timil Patel got the better of the skipper.

Gujarat bowlers failed to make any inroads as Das and Gandhi frustated the otherwise disciplined attack, blending caution and aggression effectively and dispatching the loose deliveries to the fence.

Gandhi slammed 10 boundaries and a six in his 162-ball knock, but was unfortunate not to get his century.

Speedster Lalit Patel, Shyamal Bhatt, Hitesh Majmudar and legspinner Patel bagged one wicket each.

Scoreboard:

Gujarat Ist Innings: 179

West Bengal Ist Innings: (Overnight 35 for no loss):
 A Das not out                                117
 N Haldipur c N Patel b Bhatt           22
 A Chakraborthy b L Patel                3
 S Sanyal lbw b H Majumdar           21
 D Gandhi c N Patel b T Patel           90
 S Ahmed not out                             10

Extras: (b-1, nb-4, w-7)               12

Total: (For 4 wkts, 110 overs)        275

Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-56, 3-92, 4-253

Bowling: L Patel 16.4-5-35-1, H Majumdar 18.2-7-41-1, S Bhatt 13-1-48-1, S Yadav 26-6-54-0, T Patel 23-1-84-1, A Sood 2-0-9-0, M Parmar 1-0-3-0.