Bengal swung between hope and despair on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Group A match against Baroda in Kalyani on Thursday.

A total of 14 wickets fell on an eventful day.

First, resuming the day on 189/9, Bengal could add only two runs to their overnight total, conceding a 78-run lead to their opponents. But they sprang back to life, bundling out Baroda for just 98 in their second innings. But with a 177- run target in front of them, the hosts lost three early wickets to reach stumps on 53/3.

Mathematically, Bengal need just 124 runs for a win with seven wickets still at their disposal. But given the tricky nature of the wicket, which has aided bowlers, the job will not be easy.

Sudip Gharami was holding fort at one end, batting on 23, with Abhishek Das, Abhimanyu Easwaran and Anustup Majumdar being the batters dismissed. With their most experienced batter, Manoj Tiwary, still to come, Bengal will hope to somehow cross the bridge on Friday.

Earlier in the day, pacers Mukesh Kumar (4/43) and Ishan Porel (3/22) were heroes with the ball for Bengal.

Brief scores: Baroda 269 & 98. Bengal 191 (Anustup Majumdar 90; Sahejadkhan Pathan 5/48) and 53/3. At stumps, Day III.