Mohali: Bengal bowlers failed to capitalise on the green pitch as Punjab batting duo of Jiwanjot Singh and Mayank Sidhana posted unbeaten tons to help Punjab post 229-1 on day 2 of their Group A Ranji Trophy match at the PCA Stadium, Mohali.

Lot was expected from the Bengal pacers on the pitch which offered substantial assistance to the pacers, but they toiled hard without attaining much success as the pair of Singh (102) and Sidhana (107) stitched a 206 runs partnership for the 2nd wicket to put Punjab in a firm position.

Bengal bowlers never threatened the Punjab batters and the duo of Ashok Dinda and Sourav Sarkar were guilty of bowling too many short of the length deliveries.

Laxmi Ratan Shukla gave Bengal their first breakthrough after he removed opener Karan Goel for 12. And after that it was a drought for the bowlers. 

Both the batsmen attacked the bowling from the word go and took the fight on. They collected boundaries at ease and rotated the strke as well. They avoided taking any risk and treated the bowl on their merit.

Sidhana played 190 balls to and hit 17 boundaries while opener Singh played 201 deliveries comprising of 10 boundaries.

The now trail Bengal by 97 runs and an exciting third day is on the cards.

Earlier, Bengal resuming from their overnight score 280-7 were bowled out for 326 with leggie Rahul Sharma picking up 4-53. 

Wriddhiman Saha who was looking solid fell two runs short of a well-deserved century. He scored 98 off 200 balls including 10 boundaries and a six.

By Indian Sports News Network