Abhimanyu scores career best 201 as Bengal-Punjab Ranji Trophy match ends in draw

Kolkata, Jan 10 (UNI) Individual records - a career best double century (201 not out) from Bengal batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran and Punjab's young batter Anmolpreet Singh's season first ton (126) were some of the highlights, otherwise, the crucial Bengal-Punjab Ranji Trophy's last league match in Group B ended in a draw at Jadavpur University Ground's Salt Lake Campus here on Thursday.
The rivals split the points as visiting Punjab got three by virtue of their first innings lead, and the host received one point. And both the sides have failed to make into the quarterfinal stage.
At end of their last nine games in the league matches both collected 23 points each, much below from other states in the group to make into the knock out stage.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss Bengal made 187 in the first innings and then 432/6 declared, thanks to unbeaten 201 by 23-year-old right handed batsman Abhimanyu Easwaran and 105 by captain Manoj Tiwari.
Punjab made 447, as Anmolpreet Singh hit his season first century (126), and 135 for loss of five wickets in the second innings when the fourth day play came to end.
Punjab needed 173 runs in the second innings to win but light and time came on their way as they got only 15 overs to play in the last day and made 135/5.
Bengal resumed the last day with 218/2 with not out batsmen Abhimanyu Easwaran (100) and Manoj Tiwari (90) and the duo made 222 runs partnership in the 3rd wicket before captain was bowled by Vinay Chaudhary on 105. his 26th century in the first class match.
Writtick Chatterjee and Sreevats Goswami contributed 48 and 32 respectively, but Abhimanyu went on and on to his first double ton (201 not out ), that virtually sealed Punjab hope to win the match in final overs.
Player of the Match Abhimanyu took 373 balls to score his highest run with 10 boundaries, his third century this season.
The Dehradun born cricketer in the previous game against Delhi scored 183 not out in home in the second innings and kept Bengal on contest for a knockout stage.
He also made 186 in Hyderabad in mid-December.