GUWAHATI, Oct 26 - After three poor performances against Delhi, Rajasthan and Vidarbha respectively, Assam is all set to play their fourth Group B Ranji Trophy match against former champions Karnataka at the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai from tomorrow.
Assam suffered innings defeat against Delhi and Rajasthan while managed to draw against Vidarbha after being forced to follow on. In the nine-team group Assam is sitting at bottom with just one point while Karnataka is at second spot with 10 points from two outings. They played draw against Jharkhand after taking first innings lead and drubbed Delhi by an innings and 160 runs.
Considering the present form of the Karnataka team, it will be a tough task for the out of form Assam team.
Assam�s poor run in batting front has been a cause of concern for the team management. The form of the outside players, Arun Karthik and Amit Verma in particular is alarming. If they continue their poor show, the think tank of the team has to look for alternative. Opener Pallav Das, captain Gokul Sharma also have to be more cautious in the coming matches.
Assam in Ranji Trophy against Karnataka
Brief scores: 1st match (Pre-Q/F played from February 12 to 14, 1994 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore) Karnataka 1st inning 468.
Assam 1st innings 107 (Parag Das 25, Johnson 8/55). 2nd innings (following on) 175 (R Singh 44). Results: Karnataka won by an innings and 186 runs.
2nd match (Pre-Q/F played from March 10 to 12, 2001 at Nehru Stadium, Guwahati) Assam 1st innings: 321 (Parag Das 95, Subharajit Saikia 49, Zakaria Zuffri 62, V Samant 55, Doda Ganesh 4/93). 2nd innings: 134 (Doda Ganesh 4/46, Sunil Joshi 4/38).
Karnataka 1st innings: 312 (Gautam Dutta 3/64 and Zaved Zaman 4/68). 2nd innings: 144/3. Result: Karnataka won by 7 wickets (though Assam took 1st innings lead, Syed Kirmani was the coach of the Karnataka team).
3rd match (Played from December 25 to 28, 2003 at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore).
Assam 1st innings: 285 (Parag Das 45). 2nd innings: 308 (R Satish 100, Parag Das 56).
Karnataka 1st innings: 475 (BM Rowland 210, Sunil Joshi - 110, Arlen Konwar 5/150). 2nd Innings: 119/3. Result: Karnataka won by 7 wickets.
4th Match (Q/F, played from February 16 to 20, 2015 at Holkar Stadium, Indore). Karnataka 1st innings: 452 (Robin Uthappa 153, KL Rahul 91, Krishna Das 4/101). 2nd innings: 415/5 (decl) in 115 overs (R Samarth 127, KL Rahul 73, R Uthappa 77).
Assam 1st innings: 185 (Gokul Sarma 58). 2nd innings: 338/4 (P Das 71, Gokul Sarma 127, B Arun Karthick 94). Result: Match drawn. Karnataka through to the Semifinal by virtue of 1st Innings lead.
5th match (Played at Barsapara cricket stadium, Guwahati from October 1 to 4, 2015). Karnataka 1st innings: 187 (S Bhavane 65, Syed Md 7/44, Amit Verma 2/16). Karnataka 2nd innings: 394/8 decl (R Samarth 131, Mayank Agarwal 47, Sarupam Purkayastha 3/78, Syed Mohammad 2/91)
Assam 1st innings: 194 (Pallav Das 55, A Verma 57). Assam 2nd Innings: 259/5 (KB Arun Karthick 115 n.o, Gokul Sarma 55)
Result: Match drawn, Assam took 1st innings lead.
Compiled by: Tapash Roy, BCCI scorer cum statistician.
