Calcutta, Dec. 30 :    Calcutta, Dec. 30:  ORISSA 256 & 249BENGAL 117 & 71/3 Arun Lal firmly believes Bengal can still win this match. Ashok Malhotra also shares the same view. However, optimism hasn't quite been the essence of this current team's players. They have often failed to deliver when it mattered most, and made heavy weather of easy situations. Today was no different. After Orissa's last three wickets added 167 runs to their overnight total, the batsmen became easy fodder for their bowlers. Bengal, needing 389 for victory, were 71 for three at close on the penultimate day. 'The match is loaded 60-40 in our favour. The first hour will be crucial tomorrow. If we can dismiss Sourav Ganguly early, it will be easier for the bowlers,' said Shiv Sundar Das after the match. Devang Gandhi felt that staying put during the opening session will be vital to his team's chances. It was the Orissa tailenders who frustrated the Bengal attack till 20 minutes before tea. After P. Jayachandra and Debashish Mohanty added 62 for the eighth wicket, Jagannath Das (44) and Ajay Barik (50) put on a 110-run partnership for the last wicket. The bowling, as usual, sans Sourav lacked penetration and imagination while the fielding fared no better. Apart from two catches being dropped, the poor ground fielding exposed the appalling fitness level among the players. The captaincy also showed signs of strain. Apart from Sourav, Devang relied very much on Utpal Chatterjee and Sourashish Lahiri. Wrichik Mazumder was given very little chance and has ended up bowling 5.4 overs in the match. The leg spinner, however, struck the final blow shortly after being asked to bowl. 'His confidence level is not too high,' Devang tried to explain later. But why was he then picked in the side? It is also true, though, that the bowlers themselves failed to prove themselves competent enough for the job. As Jagannath Das and Barik stayed put for 140 minutes and showed tremendous temperament and application in tackling everything that was on offer, the Bengal skipper was left clueless. The move to promote Wrichik at No. 3 in the second innings also defied logic. Devang insisted it was 'part of a plan' to counter Mohanty. But keeping the top-order away from the new ball (read Mohanty) is no encouraging sign. It doesn't really speak highly of the confidence level among the batsmen. The openers had started in fine fashion but Amitava Banerjee's penchant for attempting too many strokes early on cost him his wicket. He survived once but was plumb in front to Mohanty. Arijit Bose looked well set after seeing off the new ball confidently. But a rash stroke saw him spooning the ball to short cover. Wrichik knew very little about the one from Mohanty that knocked his off stump. Sourav, who survived a close leg before call off the very first ball from Mohanty, saw to it that no more wickets fell. There were three delightfully struck boundaries during his brief stay at the wicket. It is on the India captain that all hopes rest. Only he can inspire them to a victory. Similarly, Mohanty's success will determine Orissa's fortunes. The pacer has already picked eight wickets in the match. The sight of Sourav at the opposite end may just egg him on further.