Karnataka bowlers came up with a fine effort as the home side stamped their authority over Bengal XI on the penultimate of their four-day game at the RSI grounds here on Saturday.

It was a fine show from the Karnataka bowlers, considering the placid nature of the pitch on which the hosts amassed a 500-plus total in their first essay. The visitors were sitting pretty at 110 for one when stumps were drawn on the second day, and had appeared set to stage a powerful batting show. But the host bowlers upset their plans with a good effort, grabbing the remaining nine wickets for 237 runs.

Huge lead
Having taken a 198-run first innings lead, Karnataka strengthened their position, making 62 for one in their second essay for an overall lead of 260 runs.

Bengal began on a shaky note when they lost Arindam Das early on in the morning after adding only six runs to his overnight score of 78.

Wriddiman Saha made a valiant 94, and he received good support from Kamal Hassan Mandal, who made a solid 54. But the Karnataka bowlers struck at regular intervals to hasten Bengal's end.

For Karnataka, NC Aiyappa, C Raghu, R Vinay Kumar and Abhishek Jagan picked up two wickets apiece.

Brief scores:
Karnataka XI: 545/8 decl. and 62/1 in 13 overs (Bharath Chipli 32) vs Bengal XI: 347 all out in 94.1 overs (Arindam Das 84, Laxmi Ratan Shukla 31, Kamal Hassan 54, Wriddiman 94, Sourashih Lahiri 30; Vinay Kumar 3-84, N C Aiyappa 2-42, Abhishek Jagaan 2-54, C Raghu 2-21).