Sudip Chatterjee struck a successive fifty-plus score, while Abhimanyu Easwaran hit an unbeaten half-century as the two openers put Bengal in the driving seat after a crucial first-innings lead on Day III of their Ranji Trophy Group A clash against Uttar Pradesh.

Pacer Mukesh Kumar (4/43) and spinner all-rounder Shahbaz Ahmed (4/96) played an important role in limiting the home side to 292, which gave Bengal a 19-run first-innings lead. The opening duo then capitalised on the momentum to help Bengal strengthen their grip on the game.

As bad light cut short play on Sunday, Bengal were sitting comfortably at 141/0 with an overall lead of 160 runs.

Abhimanyu, who was dismissed for a mere five in Bengal’s first innings, looked like a different player in the second essay. The right-hander demonstrated his class, remaining unbeaten on 78 from 107 balls, hitting seven well-timed boundaries.

Brief scores: Bengal 311 & 141/0 (Abhimanyu Easwaran 78 batting, Sudip Chatterjee 59 batting). UP 292 (Mukesh Kumar 4/43, Shahbaz Ahmed 4/96). At stumps, Day III.

Written with PTI inputs