GUWAHATI, Jan 2 � Assam�s dismal show in this season�s Ranji Trophy continued as in the final encounter against table leader Maharashtra, they went down by 128 runs.
On the final day of the four-day match at the Assam Cricket Association�s Barsapara stadium here today, the host team folded their second innings at 215. On the final day the host team needed an imposing 250 runs with six wickets in hand. Assam�s only hope was on batsmen like Dheeraj Jadhav, Gokul Sharma and Syed Mohammad. But the Maharashtra bowlers continued their fine form and bundled the hosts for 215 in 72.4 overs.
The only highlight of Assam�s innings was a half century (193-ball 61) by opener Dhiraj Jadhav. Abu Nechim Ahmed and Kunal Saikia were the other notable contributors with 46 and 32 respectively.
Left arm spinner, Akshay Darekar, who took six wickets in Assam�s first innings, completed his 10-wicket haul removing four wickets in the second innings. Medium pacer Srikant Monde took two.
SCORECARD
Maharashtra 1st innings: 361
Assam 1st innings: 152
Maharashtra 2nd innings: 134
Assam 2nd innings: DS Jadhav lbw b Mundhe 61, P Aziz run out (Khadiwale) 31, RK Das lbw b Darekar 0, AS Sinha c Motwani b Chavan 12, NK Patel c Jadhav b Khurana 1, G Sharma c Motwani b Mundhe 3, J Syed Mohammad c & b Darekar 11, KN Saikia c Motwani b Darekar 32, AN Ahmed c Motwani b Fallah 46, PL Das c sub (RA Tripathi) b Darekar 1, AK Das not out 1. Extras: (b 4, lb 5, nb 7) 16. Total: (all out; 72.4 overs) 215. Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-49, 3-83, 4-91, 5-96, 6-113, 7-165, 8-167, 9-199, 10-215. Bowling: SM Fallah 3.4-0-16-1, AA Sanklecha 1-0-5-0, CG Khurana 27-6-57-1, SS Mundhe 10-3-28-2, AA Darekar 23-4-84-4, PS Chavan 6-2-14-1, AR Bawne 2-1-2-0.
