Ranji Trophy: Assam make steady start after follow on

Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Assam needed a united effort from the batters to avoid defeat in the Ranji Trophy tie against Tamil Nadu in Chennai on Friday. In reply to Tamil Nadu's first innings total 540, the visitors today bowled out 266 runs in the first innings and were forced to follow on. However Assam made a steady start in the second innings and were 66-0 at stumps on day III. The side still required 208 runs to put Tamil Nadu to bat again.

Assam resumed the day's play from their overnight score 120-4 and added another 146 runs before got out 266 in the first innings. Swarupam Purkayastha was the batter to watch on day III who played a well composed knock and scored his 10th half century in first class cricket.

The batter came into bat after overnight batter Gokul Sharma (31) got out when the day's play was just 7.1 overs old. Thereafter Swarupam tried to take Assam to a safer zone but there was not too much support, except once, from the other end. After the departure of Gokul, other overnight batter Abhishek Thakuri (37) followed him quickly and Siddharth Sarmah (13) also wasn't able to stay on the wicket for a long period.

But Akash Sengupta (14) showed a lot of determination on the wicket and gave good support to Swarupam, On the 8th wicket Swarupam and Akash contributed 65 runs facing 144 balls together. Swarupam, got out as the last wicket, scored 74 with the help of 10 boundaries and one six. He faced 161 balls

Among the bowlers of Tamil Nadu Ajith Ram (4-68) came out with the best figure and R Sai Kishore (3-67) supported him well.

In the second innings Assam made a steady start. The team played 34 overs and scored 66-0 when the day's play came to an end. Subham Mandal remained not out on 23 and Rahul Hazarika was playing on 36.

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