Mangaldai Dec 2 � After a poor batting display, host Assam struck back with four first innings wickets of Orissa on the first day of the 3-day Vijay Merchant U-16 East Zone cricket tournament here today.
When stumps were drawn, the visitors were 67 for 4, 120 runs short of the Assam�s first innings total of 187. Medium pacer Amar Nasim Alam was the chief wrecker for Assam with 3 for 30 while his fellow partner Mrinmoi Dutta captured the remaining wicket.
Earlier, the host was bundled out for a small total of 187 runs on the board as five of their batsmen failed to enter double figures. During lunch, they were in a commanding position reaching 102 runs losing only one wicket but a middle order collapse later on turned the match in Orissa�s favour. Just before tea, Assam lost all its wickets.
Opener Biplab Saikia top scored with 75 runs before being run out. For Orissa, spinners Sarthak Siv Mahapattra (4/36) and Raj Kisam Patel (4/48) shared most of the Assam wickets. Earlier the match played at the Mangaldai Stadium was formally inaugurated by Vivek Raj Singh, SP, Darrang.
Brief scores: Assam (1st innings) 187 all out in 71.2 overs (B Saikia 75, R Khan 18, S Mazumdar 16 ; SS Mahapattra 4/36, RK Patel 4/48). Orissa (1st innings) 67/4 in 26 overs (S Mahananda 19 n.o. ; AN Alam 3/30, M Dutta 1/24.)
