About 20 minutes before lunch on Day Three of this Group A Ranji Trophy fixture at Eden Gardens, Mumbai captain Suryakumar Yadav had a decision to make. Bengal were all out for 210 in their first innings, falling short by 55 to save the follow-on. But by then, Mumbai bowlers had already bowled 74.4 overs on this very slow pitch and they looked tired.

Also, Abhishek Nayar’s knee injury meant they were one bowler short.

Then again, enforcing the follow-on was perhaps Mumbai’s only chance to secure an outright victory. Yadav decided to go for the later.

Missed chance

As Bengal started their second innings, 204 runs adrift of Mumbai’s total of 414, striking with the new ball became imperative. But Shreyas Iyer dropped Arindam Das at gully when the latter was batting on six. The Bengal opener finished the day on 80 not out as his team moved to 129 for no loss, 75 short of saving the innings defeat. Rohan Banerjee was batting on 44 at the other end.

As the afternoon wore on, Mumbai bowlers, especially Shardul Thakur, looked weary. Thakur, who had bagged a five-for in the first innings, bowled only 10 overs in the second.

Earlier, Bengal were all out for 210 in their first innings. Young Abhimanyu Easwaran was the top scorer with 85.

Brief Scores: Mumbai 414; Bengal 210 in 74.4 overs (A Easwaran 85; S Thakur 5/59) & 129/0 in 44 overs (A Das 80 n.o., R Banerjee 44 n.o.).