GUWAHATI, Nov 11 � Despite a splendid demonstration of pace bowling by Abu Nechim Ahmed, Assam conceded a first innings lead to Goa in their Plate Division Ranji Trophy match.
On the second day of the four-day match at Nehru Stadium here today, in reply to Assam�s first innings total of 195 Goa were 277 for eight.
At one stage the visiting team was tottering at 101 for seven. But two defiant partnerships � 95-run between Reagan Pinto and Robin D�Souza for the eight wicket and unbeaten 81-run between Pinto and Amit Yadav spoilt Assam�s party.
Pinto was the man who not only dragged his team out of troubled waters but also cracked an unbeaten century. He was at the crease with 115 off 214 balls and batted for 290 minutes today. Robin provided him able support who was out for 35 after crossing Assam�s total.
Earlier, Assam pacer Abu Nechim Ahmed sent down a devastating spell and got the wickets of Sherbahadur Yadav (39), Vasantha Sarvanan (0), Rahul Keni (0) in three consecutive balls in his 14th over and team�s 38th over.
But Assam had to pay the penalty for not having a genuine spinner as slow bowlers got only one wicket while pacers got seven. Abu was the top wicket taker with five victims while Krishna Das and Dhiraj Goswami took one each.
In the later part of the second day, the wicket looked easy and all the lower order Goa batsmen punished the Assam bowlers all round the wicket with ease.
SCORECARD
Assam 1st innings: 195
Goa 1st innings: VU Naik b Abu 0, KA Vaz c Rawat b Das 0, SB Yadav b Abu 39, AS Raut c Saikia b Goswami 24, RJ Pinto not out 115, SV Saravanan b Abu 0, R Keni c Tarjinder Singh b Abu 0, SS Bandekar b Abu 12, RT D�Souza c Saikia b Sharma 35, Amit Yadav not out 38. Extras: (b 3, lb 7, w 1, nb 3) 14. Total: (8 wickets; 96 overs) 277. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-65, 4-85, 5-85, 6-85, 7-101, 8-196. Bowling: Abu 27-8-84-5, K Das 13-6-18-1, Tarjinder Singh 9.4-2-26-0, G Sharma 9.2-1-34-1, DS Goswami 18-4-42-1, PG Bhagat 12-1-39-0, SR Nair 7-0-24-0.
