Abhimanyu Easwaran couldn’t have asked for a better start at home.

Going into the game with four successive centuries under his belt, Easwaran brought up his fifth hundred in as many innings that had Bengal well placed at 269/3 on Day I of their Ranji Trophy clash against Group A toppers Uttarakhand.

At stumps on Tuesday at the Abhimanyu Cricket Academy ground, Easwaran was batting on 141 with senior batsman Anustup Majumdar dismissed off the last day of the day’s play. Alongside Easwaran, No.3 Sudip Gharami continued to impress, hitting a compact 90.

The top order has been a concern for Bengal in their first couple of games in the competition, especially with the opening pair looking shaky. But Easwaran’s comeback certainly appears to have helped the side, providing a fair bit of solidity to the top order.

“I just want to continue the process and stick to my basics. I would want to dedicate this century to my Jyotimamu, a very close family friend who was supposed to come and witness the match. But he passed away yesterday (Monday) suddenly,” Easwaran said later.

Easwaran had a new opening partner in the form of seamer all-rounder Sayan Sekhar Mondal, who was promoted up the order after coming in as one of the replacements. Mondal, who has opened in the past, ensured he was steady and turned out to be a good foil for Easwaran after Bengal were put into bat.

Mondal (18)’s steadiness helped Easwaran to play his natural game at his home ground as the duo put on 84 upfront at a run rate in excess of four. Thereafter, Easwaran and Gharami put on 170 for the second wicket that laid the foundation for a formidable total.

Unadkat show

In Rajkot, captain Jaydev Unadkat became the first player to record a hat-trick in his first over in Ranji’s 88-year-old history and recorded career-best figures (8/39) as Saurashtra bundled Delhi out for 133.

In reply, opener Harvik Desai remained unbeaten on 104 as Saurashtra were 184/1 at stumps.

Summarised scores

In Dehradun: Bengal 269/3 (A. Easwaran 141 batting, S. Gharami 90) vs Uttarakhand.

In Rajkot: Delhi 133 (H. Shokeen 68 n.o.; J. Unadkat 8/39). Saurashtra 184/1 (H. Desai 104 batting). (At stumps, Day I.)