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[caption id="attachment_25879" align="alignnone" width="580"] Bengal pacer Ashoke Dinda with captain Manoj Tiwary. File Pic.[/caption] Kolkata: Bengal coach Sairaj Bahutule has criticised a section of the media for carrying the news of the spat between Dinda and Ojha. According to Bahutule, the matter was ‘blown out of proportion’. The controversy however did have an adverse effect as both the players failed to impress with the ball, handing Tamil Nadu a first innings lead in Ranji Trophy Group A clash at the Madhav Rao Scindia stadium in Rajkot. Bengal bowlers, after getting 9 Tamil Nadu batsmen out were frustrated by the last pair Krishnamoorthy Vignesh and Thangarasu Natarajan. They both added 38 runs for the unbroken final wicket stand to ensure three points for Tamil Nadu. Bengal coach Sairaj Bahutule stood behind his bowlers. According to Bahutule, “The boys have put up a good fight. It is our misfortune that after getting them down to 9 wickets for 310, we still had to concede the deficit. Sayan really bowled his heart out.” Vignesh was joined by Natarajan when the score was 310 for 9 with Tamil Nadu needing another 28 runs to surpass Bengal's tally of 337. Vignesh struck 30 off 38 balls with three fours and a six while Natarajan defended doggedly for his 10 runs as Tamil Nadu finished the day at 348 for 9. At the start of the day, Abhinav Mukund (45) and Kaushik Gandhi (65) added 100 runs for the second wicket before Agniv Pan's direct throw found Mukund short of his ground. Gandhi, who hot seven boundaries was gone when he edged one from Ojha with Shreevats Goswami snapping it up behind the stumps. Tamil Nadu batsman Dinesh Karthik top-scored with a valuable 80 runs. His knock included 11 boundaries. He added 58 runs Baba Indrajith (34). However both the Baba brothers were out in quick succession to Sayan Ghosh (4/121) who was getting the old ball to reverse. Once Karthik edged one from Amit Kuila to Goswami behind the stumps at the score of 281, there was a fair chance for Bengal to take first innings lead but the Tamil Nadu tail wagged vigorously with Aswin Crist hitting a quickfire 36 with the help of two fours and two sixes. While Ghosh was the most successful among Bengal bowlers but he was also wayward at times giving away easy runs toTamil Nadu batsmen. Asked to comment about Manoj’s captaincy, Bahutule said, “I think he has done a good job so far.” Commenting about the incident which took place on the day before the match, a frustrated Bahutule said, “I think the matter was blown out of proportion. These things do happen when you play in international cricket. I do not where the media got such news from.” He further added, “Media should have been more responsible especially when the team is playing against a team like Tamil Nadu. It surely had an effect on the performances of the players.” Bengal is now on 16 points from 4 matches while Tamil Nadu is on 20 points from 6 games. Bengal next play Baroda in Lahli from November 21. Brief Scores: Bengal 1st Innings 337 Tamil Nadu 1st Innings 348/9 (Dinesh Karthik 80, Kaushik Gandhi 65 Sayan Ghosh 4/121)