Ranji Trophy: Match heading towards close finish
Ranji : Goa need 52 runs; Assam require 4 wickets on final day for third win
Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: The Ranji Trophy match between Assam and Goa poised for an interesting finish as both the sides have equal chance to win the tie at the ACA stadium on Tuesday.
Chasing 218 runs to win Goa scored 166-6 in their second innings at stumps on day III. Amit Verma is playing on 62 and Lakshay A Garg (57) is giving him accompany.
But it could be a different story if Assam bowlers, who gave good start to the team in the second innings, were able to keep pressure on the visitors. Goa were once struggling on 78-6 in the second innings today and heading for big defeat. But a solid partnership between Amit Verma and Lakshay changed the entire scenario. The duo on the seventh wicket partnership already added 88 runs and during the process both the batsmen scored half centuries.
Amit, who earlier played for Assam, played a cautious knock and allowed Lakshay to score runs quickly. Amit faced 99 balls to score unbeaten 62 runs with the help of eight boundaries. Lakshay on the other hand took 62 balls to score unbeaten 57 runs and there are seven boundaries and two sixes in his innings.
Among the Assam bowlers Mukhatar Hussain bagged 3-40 and Arup Das collected 2-51. Ranjit Mali took the other wicket.
Earlier Assam were bowled out 235 runs in the second innings. Two overnight not out batsmen Rishav Das (67, 4X7) and captain Amit Sinha (52, 4X6) scored half centuries and made platform for big total. But three run out-Amit, Pallav Kumar Das (25) and Wasiqur Rahman (24)- in the innings forced Assam to end the second innings on 235.
Krishna Das was the most successful bowler for the visitors. Former Assam pacer collected 4-63 in the second innings.
