Abhimanyu Easwaran was finally back among runs with an unbeaten 200 to put Bengal in a commanding position against Bihar on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the Eden Gardens on Saturday.

Easwaran has hardly been among runs this season with his 72 against Kerala in the last Ranji match being his highest. Playing for India A, he had scored a 58 against England Lions in Ahmedabad.

His innings will hardly do any good to his reputation as a promising player since it came against an unfancied opposition like Bihar. His 219-ball innings included 23 boundaries and he crossed 7000 first-class runs in the process.

His knock helped Bengal post 411/5 declared in their first innings to grab a 316-run lead after bowling out Bihar for just 95.

Bihar in their second innings were 32/1 at stumps, still trailing by 284 runs.

Skipper Manoj Tiwary got a rousing welcome from both the home and away camps on what is likely to be his final Ranji match.

Manoj (30) showed glimpses of his class and smashed four boundaries. But his stay was cut short following a controversial lbw dismissal.

Brief scores: Bihar 95 & 32/1. Bengal 411/5 decl. (A. Easwaran 200 not out).

Pujara century

Cheteshwar Pujara struck his 63rd first-class century as Saurashtra took a 387-run lead against Manipur in Rajkot. Manipur, who where bowled out for 142 in their first essay, were reeling at 55 for 3 at stumps.