Ranji Trophy: Assam face Odisha from today

Ranji Trophy: Hosts likely to put unchange team

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Assam will take on Odisha in their first home match of the Season in the Ranji Trophy from tomorrow. The match will be held at ACA stadium, Barsapara.

Assam made good start in their campaign and already pocketed seven points from their earlier two outings. In the first game Assam collected one point from the drawn game against Jharkhand and in the second game they earned six points registering a huge victory over Tripura.

Assam kept unchanged 15 for their next game and first XI too likely to be same.

Talking to the media persons at the end of the practice session at the ACA stadium Head Coach Zakaria Zuffri admitted that the beginning of the season is good this time. “We have made good start. Both our bowlers and batsmen are trying to contribute equally and it is a very good sign. A nice performance in this match would put us in a very strong position in the points table and we would try our best to do it,” said former stumper.

On the team composition he said, “We are likely to go with the same team in the match that played against Tripura in the last game.”

Assam played with three pacers in the earlier two games and although the trio performing equally with the ball but young pacer Mukhtar Hussain hogged the limelight displaying some magnificent pace bowling. The pacer, who made debut in the Ranji Trophy in the first game against Jharkhand, picked up 14 wickets from two outings.

Reacting on his performance coach said,“ He is a promising bowler and doing well. He should maintain consistency in his performance. I should also like to add that Arup and Ranjit too bowled very well during our earlier games.”

Meanwhile captain of the team Amit Sinha feels his side needs atleast 350 runs in the first innings, if bat first, in the game which can give the bowlers proper opportunity to defend the total. “Our bowlers are doing very well in the championship this season. Still we should give them atleast 350 runs otherwise it is difficult for the bowlers to defend the total.”

Commenting on team’s performance on the first two games captain said, “The main reason behind the success is that we are playing like an unit. All are trying to take some extra responsibilities. Hope, it would be continued here and our remaining matches also.”

Odisha however struggling in the competition and they collected only one point from their two outings. The side lost their last game to Uttar Pradesh by huge 10 wickets.

Coach Rashmi Ranjan Parida feels, it is the time for his squad to fight back otherwise it would be too late. “We have already lost several points in the first two games. So we should try to collect as much point as possible from here. The wickets looks very sporting at Barsapara and hope our players would be able to take full advantage from it,” said the coach who once turned out for Assam in the 2008-09 Ranji season.

Odisha although struggled in their earlier matches but some of their batsmen are doing well in the competition this season. Captain Biplab Samantray and opener A R Sarengi already scored a century each while their tail ender too contributing on regular basis.

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