Ranji: Tripura stare at innings defeat against Assam

Hosts Assam will be aiming for an innings victory against Tripura going into the final day of their Ranji Trophy group league match in Guwahati.

Starting the day at 72 for three, Tripura were all out for 145 in their first innings. Adding insult to injury, Assam skipper Dheeraj Jadhav asked Ajay Ratra and co to follow on and at stumps they were 168 for six, still 137 runs behind Assam's first innings score of 450 all out.

None of the Tripura batsmen applied themselves on a track which was good for batting. Subhrajit Roy (35) and Manisankar Murasingh (26) were the top-scorers for the visitors in the first innings.

Tripura kept on losing wickets at regular intervals as pacers Abu Nechim Ahmed and Arup Kamalkanta Das shared seven wickets between them before off-spinner Arlen Konwar polish off the tail in style.

With a deficit of 305 runs, Tripura received twin blows when Nechim and Das removed openers Subhrajit (8) and Samrat Singha (2) in quick succession.

While Subhrajit edged one to Rajdeep Das behind stumps, Singha was caught by Tarjinder Singh.

Udit Patel (39) looked solid with six hits to the fence but failed to convert his start to a bigger score.

Skipper Ratra (47) and Murasingh (41) were at the crease when stumps were drawn for the day.

Both have to play a major role in averting innings defeat. The duo have added 75 runs for the unbroken seventh-wicket partnership.

Earlier, Jadhav smashed a brilliant double century to take Assam to a commanding position in their first innings.

Jadhav made 243 from 462 balls with the help of 30 fours and a six and got able support from lower-order batsman Syed Mohammad (89), who shared 203 runs with his skipper for the sixth wicket.

Jadhav's double hundred overshadowed Tripura pacer Timir Chanda's fine five-wicket haul for 74 runs from 33 overs.

Brief Scores:

Assam 1st Innings: 450 all out in 152.5 overs

Tripura: 145 & 168/6 (f/o) in 66 overs.