Karnataka's batting woes continued as they were dismissed for 292 in the first innings, conceding a vital 43-run first innings to Bengal in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'A' match, on the penultimate day, in Mysore on Monday.

Replying to Bengal's 335, Karnataka began on a promising note on Sunday but failed to maintain the tempo, losing wickets at regular intervals today.

The only solace for the hosts was a fine knock by Bharath Chipli, who scored 115 runs off 171 balls, with the aid of 15 boundaries and three sixes.

Overnight 117 for one, Karnataka lost Rowland Barrington for 46. After his dismissal, skipper Sujit Somasundar, S P Shinde, V S T Naidu, B Akhil, D Ganesh and R Vinaykumar returned to the pavilion in quick succession, unable to tackle S S Lahiri, who scalped six wickets while conceding 111 runs.

S B Joshi (44) stretched Karnataka's innings by defying the Bengal bowlers for some time before he fell victim to Lahiri.

S S Paul and S S Singh shared two wickets each.

Bengal were 75 for no loss in their second innings at close, with openers Arindam Das (33) and Subhmoy Das (40) at the crease.

Scorecard

Bengal (1st innings):
Arindam Das c Uthappa b Joshi 56
SG Das c Somasunder b Vinay Kumar 10
DJ Gandhi lbw b Akhil 19
RS Gavaskar c Naidu b Joshi 96
M Tewari lbw b Ganesh 43
D Dasgupta c Uthappa b Patel 21
LR Shukla c Rowland b Joshi 41
SS Lahiri c Chipli b Patel 14
S Singh c Chipli b Patel 10
SS Paul c Chipli b Patel 0
RR Bose not out 1
Extras: (b 5, lb 5, w 3, nb 11) 24
Total: (all out, 151.1 overs, 615 mins) 335

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-52, 3-137, 4-234, 5-245, 6-278, 7-301, 8-327, 9-327, 10-331.

Bowling: Vinay Kumar 23-4-45-1 (6nb, 2w), Ganesh 26-4-60-1 (5nb, 1w), Joshi 42.1-8-69-3, Akhil 18-5-42-1, Patel 41-9-103-4, Uthappa 1-0-6-0.

Karnataka (1st innings):
AR Uthappa lbw b Paul 5
B Chipli b Singh 115
BM Rowland st Dasgupta b Lahiri 46
S Somasunder b Lahiri 3
SP Shinde b Lahiri 20
VST Naidu lbw b Paul 21
B Akhil c Shukla b Singh 5
SB Joshi c Das b Lahiri 44
D Ganesh c Das b Lahiri 2
R Vinay Kumar b Lahiri 7
UB Patel not out 0.
Extras: (b 2, lb 8, w 1, nb 13) 24
Total: (all out, 92.5 overs, 295 mins) 292

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-186, 3-188, 4-194, 5-214, 6-223, 7-271, 8-278, 9-289, 10-292.

Bowling: Bose 11-3-26-0, Paul 20-4-68-2 (6nb), Lahiri 31.5-6-111-6 (7nb), Singh 26-8-63-2 (1w), Tewari 4-0-14-0.

Bengal (2nd innings):
Arindam Das not out 33
SG Das not out 40
Extras: (nb 2) 2
Total: (0 wickets, 26 overs) 75

To bat: D Dasgupta, DJ Gandhi, RS Gavaskar, LR Shukla, RR Bose, SS Paul, SS Lahiri, S Singh, M Tewari.

Bowling: Vinay Kumar 4-1-4-0 (2nb), Joshi 7-1-11-0, Ganesh 4-0-18-0, Patel 9-0-33-0, Akhil 2-0-9-0.