GUWAHATI, Nov 21 - Maharashtra all set for a massive total in their Ranji Trophy Group B match against Assam.
On the opening day of the four-day match at the Indian Institute of Technology Chempu ground, Chennai today, opting bat first Maharashtra gathered 352 for the loss of five wickets humiliating Assam bowling.
Almost all the Maharashtra batsmen were among runs today while former Team India player Kedar Jadhav cracked 115 off just 106 balls. He was quite aggressive from the initial stage and hit 15 boundaries and three sixes in his strokeful knock. Naushad Shaikh (97) and opener Swapnil Gugale (50) where the other batsmen to reach half century. Naushad�s 163-ball innings was studed with 12 boundaries while Swapnil took 81 deliveries to reach half century. He hit 8 boundaries.
Assam bowlers, particularly Arup Das, the hero of the Saurashtra match, were in poor shape today as no one could trouble the opponent batsmen. Medium pacer Mrinmoy Dutta was in the team in place of Krishna Das, conceded 78 runs in 18 overs he bowled taking one wicket. Left arm spinner J Syed Mohammad came out with two wickets giving away 63 runs.
SCORECARD
Maharashtra 1st innings: SM Gugale c Hazarika b Dutta 50, MS Trunkwala c Saikia b Purkayastha 22, NS Shaikh c Saikia b Ahmed 97, KM Jadhav c Hazarika b Syed Mohammad 115, AR Bawne c Amit Verma b Syed Mohammad 38, CG Khurana not out 14, VV More not out 9; Extras: (b 1, nb 6) 7; Total: (5 wickets; 90 overs) 352. Fall of wickets: 1-54, 2-83, 3-266, 4-325, 5-327. Bowling: Arup Das 22-4-69-0, Mrinmoy Dutta 18-3-78-1, Abu Nechim Ahmed 13-1-55-1, Sarupam Purkayastha 9-2-64-1, J Syed Mohammad 24-4-63-2, Amit Verma 4-0-22-0.
