GUWAHATI, Oct 6 - Last year's semifinalist Assam made a disappointing start in the Ranji Trophy this season as they were tottering at 132 for the loss of six wickets against Delhi on the opening day of the four-day encounter.
Put into bat at the Reliance Stadium, Vadodara on a damp condition today, Delhi struck early removing opener Pallav Das (15) with score board reading 29. After that other opener Rahul Hazarika and skipper Gokul Sharma tried to repair the early damage adding 33 runs. But after Gokul�s (9) departure wickets started tumbling and Assam were reduced to 89 for five.
However, Tarjinder Singh and Syed Mohammad enabled Assam to cross the 100-run mark adding 24 runs for the sixth wicket.
At close Sarupam Purkayastha (8) was giving company to Tarjinder (31) and both laced 19 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket.
The match was started after the lunch break only due to rain.
SCORECARD
Assam 1st innings: Pallav Das c Saini b Manan Sharma 15, Rahul Hazarika b Saini 37, Gokul Sharma b Varun Sood 9, Amit Verma c Rana b Saini 2, KB Arun Karthik b Varun Sood 9, Tarjinder Singh batting 31, J Syed Mohammad c Chand b Manan Sharma 13, Sarupam Purkayastha batting 8. Extras: (b 4, w 1, nb 3) 8; Total: (6 wickets; 62 overs) 132. To bat: Abu Nechim Ahmed, Krishna Das, Arup Das. Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-62, 3-64, 4-65, 5-89, 6-113. Bowling: PJ Sangwan 13-3-31-0, NA Saini 12-3-31-2, P Awana 5-3-3-0, Manan Sharma 15-5-34-2, Varun Sood 17-5-29-2.
