Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: Assam made a good comeback against Maharashtra on day I in the Ranji Trophy tie in Pune today. Invited to bat, Assam were once 7-136 but two good knocks from Swarupam Purkayastha and Akash Sengupta helped the visitors to take their first innings score 272-9 at stumps. Akash, came into bat at no 9 position, remained not out on 63 and Ranjit Mali was giving him the company. Swarupam contributed 65 on the board.
The start of the day was very dull for Assam as opener Rahul Hazarika (1) returned into the pavilion on team's total 11 and the game was just 2.4 overs old. He was quickly followed by Rishav Das (1). Riyan Parag (22), Kunal Saikia (24) and Gokul Sharma (12) too failed to stay on the wicket for a long period which put a lot of pressure on Assam innings.
Sibsankar Roy and Swarupam Purkayastha then tried to put up a little resistance and the duo on 6th wicket added 37 runs. When it looked like Assam perhaps came out from the turbulent zone, Maharashtra came back and removed Sibsankar (35) and Sidharth Sarma (5) in quick succession. However a gutsy resistance from lower order batters Akash Sengupta and Mukhtar Hussain and a well composed knock from Swarupam Purkayastha finally took Assam into a good position. Akash came into bat when the team's total was 7-136. Swarupam guided him nicely and the duo on the 8th wicket took the score to 190 adding 54 runs. Swarupam, scored his ninth half century in first class cricket, added 65 runs on the board from 91 balls with the help of six boundaries and three over boundaries. Akash faced 122 balls and remained unbeaten on 63 when day's play came to an end. There were three boundaries and four sixes in his innings. He also added 41 runs with Mukhtar Hussain (24) on the ninth-wicket. Moreover, Mukhtar added unbeaten 41 runs with Ranjeet Mali for the final wicket. The last session of the day was the best one for Assam where they added 109 runs losing just two wickets. Among the bowlers of Maharashtra P C Dadhe, 3-85, came out with the best bowling figure. M Ingle, A Palkar and S Bachhav bagged two wickets each on opening day.
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