Bengal finish at top of Group B

Bengal thumped Rajasthan by an innings and 62 runs to enter the semi-final of the Ranji Trophy as champions of Group B at the Eden Gardens on the final day on Saturday.

Coming in to bat this morning with six wickets in hand and a mammoth task to overcome the Bengal first innings lead, Rajasthan managed to score 328 runs in their second innings.

Nikhil Doru scored a defiant 103 in 257 balls with nine hits to the fence, while Rohit Jhalani returned to the pavilion without adding to his overnight score of 62.

Ajay Jadeja came in to bat at number nine for Rajasthan and remained not out on 25.

For Bengal, Lakshmi Ratan Shukla picked up two wickets giving away just nine runs. Sourav Sarkar claimed three wickets for 52 runs, while Sourasish Lahiri got two wickets for 100 runs.

Bengal had put up a spirited display scoring 583 runs in their first innings after bowling out Rajasthan for 193 in their first outing, thanks to fiery bowling by medium pacer Ranadeb Bose, who collected six wickets for the hosts.

Bose, who got just one wicket in Rajasthan's second innings, did not bowl on Saturday.

Bengal's first innings total shaped around three excellent centuries by Sourav Ganguly (122), Abhishek Jhunjhunwala (115) and Manoj Tiwary (181).

Bengal is likely to face Karnataka in the semi-final to be played at the Eden Gardens.