Debutant Mukhtar shines with a ball: Visitor 125/2 in reply to Jharkhand’s 344
Our Sports Reporter
GUWAHATI: A dream performance in debut match by pacer Mukhtar Hussain followed by two responsible knocks from Gokul Sharma and Sib Sankar Roy helped Assam to stay in comfort zone after the end of the day II in Ranji Trophy tie against Jharkhand in Ranchi on Friday.
Chasing Jharkhand’s first innings total 344 runs Assam were 125-2 in their first innings at stumps.
The host was going well in the game in the morning until Mukhtar Hussain bowled his magic spell in the innings. It was his debut match and he looked very impressive. The bowler picked up all four wickets which Jharkhand lost today and he ended with 5-77 in the innings. The performance was the best by a state cricketer in the debut match in first-class cricket.
Jharkhand started from their overnight score 266-6 and lost their first wicket in the morning when Mukhtar returned Utkarsh Singh (76, 4X10) on team’s total 291. Another overnight not out batsman Anukul Roy (80, 4X10) however stayed on the wicket and tried to stretch the innings taking the help of tail-enders. But finally, they surrendered in front of Mukhtar. Jharkhand lost last three wickets in a gap of one run and all were collected by Mukhtar.
However Assam openers today failed to give a good start to the team and the side was quickly reduced to 2-27. Assam lost the first wicket in the form of Pallav (4) and the batsman was immediately followed by Rishav Das (14). Thereafter it was completely a one-sided story as Gokul Sharma and Sib Sankar Roy nicely negotiate the opponent bowlers and consolidated the team’s position with 99 runs unbroken third wicket partnership. At stumps, Sib Sankar remained not out on 47 (4X9) and he was giving accompany by Gokul Sharma, who needs just a single tomorrow morning to complete his 16th half century in first-class cricket.
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