GUWAHATI, Nov 3 � Riding on a solid double hundred by skipper Dheeraj Jadhav Assam scored 450 in their first innings against Tripura in the Plate Group Ranji Trophy match.
At stump on the second day of the four-day match the visiting team was tottering at 72 for three. Subharajit Roy and Syed Abbas Ali were at the crease with 27 and 9 respectively.
Dheeraj, unbeaten on 127 yesterday, scored 243 and his 213-run partnership with debutant Syed Mohammed (89) for the sixth wicket enabled Assam in crossing 400 mark. Dheeraj was the eighth batsman out today.
After Syed�s departure at team�s total of 420, the lower order failed to provide support to their captain. Dheeraj innings lasted for 635 minutes during which he faced 462 balls. His marathon innings was studded with 28 boundaries and one six.
The Assam skipper started in the morning where he left yesterday and comfortably tackled all the Tripura bowlers. It was an ideal innings from which our local boys should learn how to keep cool and select shots to play a long innings.
Syed Mohammad of Karnataka showed great deal of determination in his maiden first class match. A regular player of Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL, Syed stayed at the crease for 368 minutes and faced 170 balls. He hit 11 boundaries in his solid and useful knock.
After the tea break, which was taken little late, Abu Nechim Ahmed struck early as Tripura opener Rajib Saha was caught behind by wicket keeper Rajdeep Das off his fourth delivery. Abu�s new ball partner Arup Das also got a wicket in his second over to put the visitors in trouble. Number three batsman Samrat Singha was caught by Gokul Sharma at short mid on when he tried to pull Arup and miscued.
But the third wicket partnership between Subharajit Roy and Udit Patel yielded 42 runs as they tried to repair the early damage. However, Abu again came out powerfully and removed Udit for 23.
Later Dheeraj Jadhav said Assam is in advantageous position as the wicket taking turn. Praising Abu for the early break through, Dheeraj said the morning session tomorrow will be very crucial. Keeping faith on spinners Syed Mohammad and Orlen Konwar, he said if a couple of wickets can be captured in the first hour tomorrow then Assam will definitely be able to put ample pressure on the opponent.
SCORECARD
Assam 1st innings: Pallav Das c AS Ratra b TK Chanda 14, Dheeraj Jadhav c SM Singha b TS Saha 243, Amit Sinha b TK Chanda 0, Tajinder Singh c AS Ratra b TK Chanda 17, Gokul Sharma ct RH Saha b TK Chanda 41, Hokaito Zhimomi lbw b TK Chanda 4, Syed J Mohammed lbw b TS Saha 89, Rajdeep Das lbw b RH Saha 2, Abu Nacheim c SM Singha b RH Saha 6, Arup Das c SM Singha b TS Saha 15, Arlen Konwar not out 0. Extras: 2-wd, 2-b, 3-lb. Total: (All out off 152.5 overs) 450. Bowling: Timir Chanda 33-9-74-5, Rana Dutta 23-5-78-0, Mora Singh 15.5-4-57-0, Udit Patel 19-6-43-0, Tushar Saha 32.5-4-78-3, Abhijit Dey 17-1-68-0, Rajib Saha 11-0-45-2. SA Ali 1-0-2-0. Fall of wicket: 1-33, 2-24, 3-89, 4-196, 5-207, 6-420, 7-429, 8-429, 9-437.
Tripura 1st innings: Rajib Saha c Rajdeep Das b Abu Nacheim 4, Subhrajit Roy not out 27, SM Singha c Gokul Sharma b Arup Das 6, Udit Patel c Dheeraj Jadhav b Abu Nacheim 23, SG Ali Not Out 9. Extras: 0-wd, 0-b, 2lb. Total: (for 3 off 27.0 overs) 72. Fall of wicket: 1-4, 2, 11, 3- 53. Bowling: Abu Nacheim Ahmed 11-2-38-2, Arup Das 8-2-21-1, Syed J Mohammed 7-3-10-0, AG Konwar 1- 0-1-0.
