Spinner Mortaza Lodhgar put Bengal in a comfortable position by reducing hosts Andhra to 160 for 8 after the visitors scored 234 in their first innings of the Elite 'A' Ranji trophy match being played in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.

Resuming at 206 for 6, Bengal added 28 runs with Andhra speedster Shabuddin winding up the Bengal innings returning with impressive figures of four 31 off 20.1 overs.

The Andhra innings had a shaky start with opners Amit Pathak (6) and LN Prasad Reddy (4) returning to pavilion with the score on just 11.

Skipper Y Venugopala Rao and ASK Verma stemmed the rot by adding 62 runs for the third wicket before Lodghar stuck to dismiss Verma for 24, which came off 61 balls with two fours.

Lodhgar struck back to dismiss Venugopal Rao, who made a patient 39 off 101 bals with five fours, after S Lahiri accounted for Y Gneneshwar Rao (4).

Crumbling at 81 for 5, Andhra innings was rescued by the elegant RV Ch Prasad who hit a breezy 25 off 57 balls with two fours and one six.

KS Shabuddin hit a quickfire 22 off 27 as the day came to an end.

At close, Andhra were 160 for 8 with Md Faiq (2) and Kalyan Krishna (0) at the crease.

Lodghar returned with impressive figures of four for 34 while Sourasish Lahiri claimed two wickets.
 
Brief scores:

Bengal first innings: 234.
Andhra first innings: 160 for 8(ASK Verma 24, Y Venugopal Rao 39, AG Pradeep 28, RV Ch Prasad 25, KS Sahbuddin 22, Sourasish Lahiri 2 for 79, Murtaza Lodhgar 4 for 34).