Gujarat's last-wicket partnership warded off 13 overs to make sure that the team did not concede first innings lead to Bengal in their fifth round game in the Ranji Trophy in Surat on Wednesday.

Gujarat captain Mukund Parmar made a fighting 46 not out and rallied with the tail-enders to help the hosts to 371 for nine in 160 overs.

Bengal, who batted for nearly two and a half days had mustered 462 in their first innings and were looking good to sneak first innings lead.

But half centuries from Bhavik Thaker and Niraj Patel on the final day guided Gujarat to safer waters. Shib Shankar Paul struck two quick blows to reduce Gujarat to 286 for seven, but the lower order held fort valiantly.

Since the first innings of the match could not be completed, niether team got any points from the contest.

Scorecard

Bengal 1st innings 462

Gujarat 1st innings
N Modi c Dasgupta b Lahiri 76
A Christian c Das b Paul 0
A Bilakhia lbw b Singh 39
B Thaker c Arindam Das b Tiwary 52
N Patel c Das b Lahiri 60
M Parmar not out 46
S Trivedi c Paul b Tiwary 15
H Watekar c & b Lahiri 0
T Patel c Dasgupta b Paul 27
A Makda b Paul 17
L Patel not out 14
Extras (b 2, lb 3, w 1, nb 19) 25
Total (9 wickets, 160 overs, 650 mins) 371

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-94, 3-151, 4-236, 5-261, 6-284, 7-286, 8-321, 9-345

Bowling: Paul 38 10 84 3 (9nb), Bose 29 12 55 0 (1w), Lahiri 43 6 121 3 (9nb), Singh 34 7 64 1 (1nb), Tiwary 16 4 42 2