Calcutta: An inspired performance by debutant left-arm spinner Pradipta Pramanik and pacer B. Amit helped Bengal bundle out Punjab for 147 on Day I of their Group D Ranji Trophy match at the Gandhi Ground in Amritsar on Friday.

The visitors finished their day at 76 for no loss and trail by just 71 runs.

Punjab started off well at 31/0 in nine overs. But from the time captain Manoj Tiwary brought debutant Pramanik into the attack, Punjab were in all sorts of trouble. Left-arm spinner first scalp was the in-form Jiwanjot Singh.

While Ashok Dinda got the better of Uday Kaul, Pramanik caught Anmolpreet Singh in front of the wicket for 12. Post-lunch Ishan Porel picked up Gurkeerat Maan leaving Punjab at 62/4.

Opener Subham Gill tried to steady the innings. He had two partnerships of 33 and 28 runs with Abhishek Gupta and Abhishek Sharma respectively. While Gupta was cleaned up by Amit, Amir Gani got through the defence of Shubham Gill (63). Punjab, at that point in time, were reeling at 123/6. Finally, Punjab managed a meagre 147.

Pramanik and Amit claimed three wickets each, while Dinda, Ishan Porel and Gani took a wicket apiece.

Abhishek Raman and Abhimanyu Easwaran began cautiously and went to tea without any harm at 18/0 in five overs.

Both the openers were determined to provide a solid start as they built the innings with patience.

In-between the duo hit some delicate shots. Raman hit six boundaries and one six while Eshwaran hit five boundaries. They ensured no-hiccups in the way as Bengal finished at 76 for no loss.

At stumps, Raman remained unbeaten on 42 and Eshwaran was batting on 33.

Pramanik later said: "It was a good feeling. I could contribute to the team's cause and I am happy for it. The senior players and support staff told me to play my natural game and not to bowl under pressure."

Pramanik said captain Tiwary also gave him confidence.

"Captain asked me to go with the deliveries I was comfortable with and to bowl at the right areas. I have grown up watching these players and it is a matter of great privilege for me to share the dressing room with them."

Punjab
First innings

J. Singh    lbw Pramanik    13
S. Gill    b Gani    63
U. Kaul    c Tiwary b Dinda    3
A. Singh    lbw Pramanik    12
G. Mann    c Eswaran b Porel    4
A. Gupta    b Amit    15
A. Sharma    run out    9
H. Singh    c Chatterjee b Amit    4
V. Choudhary    not out    12
S. Sharma    lbw Amit    0
S. Kaul    b Pramanik    6
Extras (nb-0, w-0, b-0, lb-1, pen 5)    6
Total (all out; 46 overs)    147
Fall of wickets: 1/31, 2/34, 3/51, 4/62, 5/95, 6/123, 7/128, 8/130, 9/134
Bowling: Dinda 7-0-25-1; Porel 9-2-30-1; Pramanik 17-2-41-3; Amit 9-0-31-3; Gani 4-1-14-1

Bengal
First innings

A. Raman    batting    42
R. Eswaran    batting    33
Extras (nb-0, w-0, b-0, lb-1)    1
Total (0 wickets; 21 overs)    76
Bowling: Sharma 5-0-16-0; Siddharth 8-1-30-0; Harbhajan 6-0-27-0; Vinay 1-1-0-0; Gurkeerat 1-0-2-0