GUWAHATI, Nov 16 - Assam took the driver�s seat in the Group A Ranji Trophy match against table topper Delhi.
On the second day of the four-day encounter at the Barsapara cricket stadium here today, taking a thin 8-run first innings lead, Assam removed four Delhi second inings wicket for 101. Now the visiting team has a lead of 93 runs with six wickets in hand.
Assam resumed their first in nings at the overnight total of 69 for three and were soon in trouble losing skipper Gokul Sharma at team�s total of 79. After Gokul�s departure, Assam started losing wickets at regular intyervals. It was, however, KB Arun Karthik (81) who stood firm at one end and carried his bat applying technique as per the demand of the situation. He stayed at the crease for 236 minutes and faced 169 deliveries. His solid knock was studded with eight boundaries and three hits over the rope. He was the ninth batsman to out as the Assam tail failed to handle the pressure from the opponents. After Gakul�s out, Tarjinder Singh (15) was the only batsman to reach double figure.
However, Assam bowlers, despite in the absence of ace pacer Arup Das, who got injury in hand while batting and Sarupam Purkayastha, who was barred from bowling by the match referee for doubtful action, bowled superbly and too four Delhi wickets in their second innings.
First inning bowling hero Krishna Das and skipper Gokul Sharma shared two wickets each.
Unmukt Chand and Dhruv Shorey tried to repair the early damage done by Krishna removing Gautam Gambhir at team�s total of thre for one. They added 67 runs for the second wicket partnership, but Krishna struck again in the 27th over as Chand was caught by Sarupam at short mid off.
After that it was Gokul�s turn to take the ball and with his off spinners he took two wickets to reduce Delhi to 101 fo four when bad light stopped play few minutes before the scheduled time.
SCORECARD
Delhi 1st innings: 149
Assam 1st innings (overnight 69/3): Pallav Das lbw b Saini 8, Rahul Hazarika c Bisht b Sangwan 19, Gokul Sharma b Sangwan 24, Amit Verma c Milind Kumar b Sangwan 0, KB Arun Karthik lbw b Manan Sharma 81, Tarjinder Singh st Bisht b Manan Sharma 15, J Syed Mohammad c Shorey b Manan Sharma 0, Sarupam Purkayastha run out 4, Kunal Saikia c & b Manan Sharma 2, Arup Das retired hurt 0, Krishna Das not out 0. Extras: (lb 3, nb 1) 4; Total: (all out; 64.1 overs) 157. Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-36, 3-36, 4-79, 5-116, 6-116, 7-126, 8-130, 9-157. Bowling: P Awana 12-6-21-0, NA Saini 12-1-32-1, P Narang 7-2-27-0, PJ Sangwan 15.1-5-33-3, Manan Sharma 18-6-41-4.
Delhi 2nd innings: Unmukt Chand c Purkayastha b Krishna Das 44, Gautam Gambhir lbw b Krishna Das 0, DR Shorey lbw b Gokul Sharma 38, N Rana c Kunal Saikia b Gokul Sharma 19, Milind Kumar not out 0, P Bisht not out 0. Extras: 0; Total: (4 wickets; 44 overs) 101. Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-70, 3-96, 4-101. Bowling: Krishna: Das 12-3-31-2, Pallav Das 10-2-19-0, J Syed Mohammad 8-0-31-0, Amit Verma 8-3-14-0, Gokul Sharma 6-2-6-2.
