Ranji trophy: No sign of improvement in Assam batting

Ranji : Goa 66/3 after Hosts’ 175

Our Sports Reporter

GUWAHATI: Experiment continued but there is no sign of improvement in batting of Assam in the Ranji trophy. The side today bowled out paltry 175 runs in the first innings and that too against Goa which are at the bottom of the points table in elite group ‘C’.

Assam went into the game with an extra batsman as Biplab Saikia, the promising batsman, made debut in the match. Biplab proved his selection with fluent 41 but it didn’t improve overall performance of team batting. The entire side couldn’t able to bat full two sessions on day I.

Invited to bat Assam made worst start as opener Pallav Das returned without opening his account. However Biplab and Rishav, who came at number three, stitched the damage adding 54 runs on the second wicket. But once Krishna Das removed Biplab, the visitors didn’t take too much time to finish Assam innings as the host, who were once 56-1, were all out 175.The situation could be more worst if Sarupam and Ranjeet Mali didn’t add 38, the second best partnership in the innings, on 9th wicket.

Biplab faced 54 balls to score 41 runs with the help of seven boundaries. Sarupam, who was on the wicket for highest period among the Assam batsmen, played 59 balls to score 31 runs. Gokul Sarma (22) and Amit Sinha (20) although made good start but failed to stretch the innings too long.

Krishna, who is playing for Goa this season, took two wickets for 42 runs. However it was Lakshya Garg who made most of the damage for Goa in Assam innings. The right handed pacer took five wickets giving away 73 runs.

Goa finished the day scoring 66-3 in their first innings. All three wickets were claimed by Arup Das. The visitors were once in good position as both the openers added 43 runs on the first wicket. However Arup took three wickets in a gap of 2 runs and put little pressure on the visitors.

Also read: Ranji Trophy: Assam Face Goa From Today At The ACA stadium, Barsapara