GUWAHATI, Oct 27 - Assam batsmen finally got little form as on the opening day of the four-day Ranji Trophy Group B match against Karnataka they managed to gather 268 for the loss of six wickets.
At the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai today, electing to bat first Assam made a disappointing start losing two quick wickets in the form of openers Rahul Hazarika and Rishav Das. The side suffered another blow as out of form skipper Gokul Sharma departed at team�s total of 13.
However, a 79-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Amit Verma (not out 125) and KB Arun Karthik (35) steadied the Assam innings. After Karthik departed, Amit and Tarjinder Singh (26) contributed an useful 54 runs for the fifth wicket. Finally, Amit built up another partnership with Sarupam Purkayastha (not out 56) which yielded the most valuable 102 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket partnership.
The highlight of the day was Amit Verma�s century which he scored off 259 deliveries. He hit 18 boundaries and one six. Sarupam faced 88 balls and cracked seven fours and a six.
Left arm medium pacer Sreenath Aravind was the pick of the Karnataka bowlers with a five wicket haul for 49 runs in his 21 overs. Stuart Binny picked up the wicket of Tarjinder Singh.
SCORECARD
Assam 1st innings: Rishav Das c Uthappa b Aravind 0, Rahul Hazarika c Uthappa b Aravind 4, Gokul Sharma c Samarth b Aravind 8, Amit Verma not out 125, KB Arun Karthik b Aravind 35, Tarjinder Singh c Gautam b Binny 26, J Syed Mohammad c Gautam b Aravind 0, Sarupam Purkayastha not out 56. Extras (b 8, lb 6) 14; Total (6 wickets; 90 overs) 268.
Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-5, 3-16, 4-92, 5-146, 6-166. Bowling: A Mithun 1.4-1-0-0, S Aravind 21-8-49-5, STR Binny 19.2-4-67-1, K Gowtham 27-9-62-0, KK Nair 5-1-9-0, S Gopal 15-0-62-0, MA Agarwal 1-0-5-0.
