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Xtra Time Web Desk: Bengal’s star opener Abhimanyu Easwaran is set to hit a major career milestone as he steps into his 100th First-Class match on Friday, when Bengal takes on Bihar in their first home game of the Ranji Trophy season at the Bengal Cricket Academy, Kalyani. Easwaran, who has been in blistering form, amassing 7,638 runs across 99 matches, will look to commemorate this special occasion with a big knock.

Laxmi Ratan Shukla’s Bengal squad will go into this fixture with confidence, having secured three points in their opener against Uttar Pradesh. “Our preparations have been solid. Playing at home, we aim to collect maximum points. It should be an exciting game,” said Shukla, the Bengal head coach.

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Bengal’s top order has shown dominant form, with Easwaran leading the charge in their last game, scoring an unbeaten 127. Sudip Chatterjee (116 & 93) and Sudip Kumar Gharami (90) also piled up crucial runs. Meanwhile, middle-order batsmen Anustup Majumdar and Abishek Porel will be looking to contribute with key knocks in the coming matches.

Wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha is expected to miss out due to back spasms, making room for Avilin Ghosh to step in. Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, Md Kaif, and possibly Rohit Kumar are likely to bolster the side as well.

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The last time Bengal faced Bihar, they stormed to a victory by an innings and 204 runs, with Easwaran smashing an unbeaten 200. Bengal will hope for a repeat of that dominant performance this time around.