GUWAHATI, Oct 4 - It may be counted as a historic day for Assam cricket as the host team garnered three points against last two year�s champions Karnataka by virtue of their narrow but most vital 7-run first innings lead.
The four-day match at the Assam Cricket Association's Barsapara stadium ended in a draw. Requiring 388 for an outright victory in the second innings Assam finished the final day with 259 for the loss of five wickets.
It was a hectic day for the Karnataka bowlers as their skipper R Vinoy Kumar deployed as many as 10 bowlers to overcome Assam batsmen. But nothing worked as it was planned and the home team managed to draw the season opener.
Credits go to KB Arun Karthik who remained unbeaten on 115. He batted for long 344 minutes facing 258 balls. His knock was studded with 15 boundaries and three sixes.
Man-of-the-match J Syed Mohammad gave him able support and remained not out on 21. The pair added useful 58 runs for the unbroken sixth wicket partnership. Earlier, Assam had a disastrous beginning in the morning losing three wickets at team's total of 40. But skipper Gokul Sharma came out with a different mindset and put up the most valuable partnership with Arun which yielded 132 runs for the fifth wicket. Gokul scored 55 runs and most importantly he stayed at the crease for 205 minutes and that partnership could be termed as the match saver.
The Karnataka bowlers dominated the morning session removing overnight unbeaten batsman Pallav Das (26) and first innings hero Amit Verma (0). But Gokul and Arun steered the innings to the safe shore which enabled Assam in gaining crucial three points against the Ranji champions.
Roy congratulates team: Assam Cricket Association president Gautam Roy, who was in Mumbai for the BCCI meeting, congratulated the Assam Ranji team for their glorious show against defending champions Karnataka.
SCORECARD
Karnataka 1st innings: 187.
Assam 1st innings 194.
Karnataka 2nd innings 394/8 decl.
Assam 2nd innings: Pallav Das c Gautam b Vinay Kumar 26, Sib Sankar Roy lbw b Suchith 8, Gokul Sharma b Suchith 55, Amit Verma lbw b Vinay Kumar 0, KB Arun Karthik not out 115, Tarjinder Singh lbw b Gopal 15, J Syed Mohammad not out 21. Extras: (lb 12, nb 7) 19; Total: (5 wickets; 102 overs) 259. Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-40, 3-40, 4-172, 5-201. Bowling: R Vinay Kumar 17-6 -41-2, A Mithun 3.1-0-18-0, J Suchith 26-7-60-2, KK Nair 13-5-24-0, HS Sharath 14.5-4 -36-0, R Samarth 4-0-14-0, S Gopal 18-6-42-1, MA Agarwal 2-1-4-0, RV Uthappa 3-1-8-0, SA Bhavane 1-1-0-0.
