Despite a fighting 115 by Rohan Gavaskar, Bengal conceded a first innings lead of 95 runs to Orissa on the third day of their East Zone Ranji Trophy league at the Barabati stadium in Cuttack on Monday. Replying to Orissa's 370, Bengal were all out for 275. Orissa in their second innings were 24 without loss at stumps.

Resuming at 53 for three, Bengal lost two more wickets quickly and were tottering at 61 for five. However Gavaskar and A Das retreived the situation with a sixth wicket partnership of 84 runs off 24.2 overs. Gavaskar totally dominated the stand with Das scoring only eight runs.

Skipper U Chatterjee and Gavaskar then continued the recovery process by adding 62 runs for the seventh wicket off 11.3 overs. Chatterjee's bright 34 was scored off 48 balls with six hits to the ropes. Gavaskar was finally ninth out at 233. The left hander batted 225 minutes, faced 149 balls and hit 13 fours and two sixes. A last wicket stand of 42 runs from 8.5 overs between LR Shukla (29) and S Panda (15) kept the Orissa lead down to below 100. Opening bowler A Barick who did most of the early damage finished with four for 83.

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