Gujarat pacer Hitesh Majumdar came up with a five-wicket haul to force Bengal concede a three-run lead in the first innings on the penultimate day of their four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match in Kolkata on Tuesday.
Resuming at the overnight score of 227 for 5, Bengal were all out for 326 in reply to Gujarat's first innings score of 329 at the Eden Gardens.
At close, Gujarat were 119 for 1 with Azhar Bilakhia (63) and Niraj Patel (29) at the crease.
Bengal batsmen Rohan Gavaskar and Laxmi Ratan Shukla continued their good partnership bringing their team close to the Gujarat total.
The sixth wicket stand yielded 138 runs that ended when Amit Singh castled Gavaskar for 74.
Sourasish Lahiri (5) departed soon after, giving a simple catch behind the wicket as Majumdar finished with 5 for 65.
Shukla and Ranadeb Bose (21) then took Bengal to a striking distance from overhauling the Gujarat total as they put on 33 for the eighth wicket.
But when Bengal were five short of the Gujarat opening innings score, Majumdar dismissed Bose, and Bengal lost the two remaining wickets in quick time.
