Assam take honours on second day

Riding on the allround abilities of Sukhbinder Singh, Assam took a massive 271-run first innings lead over Tripura on the second day of their East Zone Ranji Trophy league match at the Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium in Agartala on Friday.

Resuming at the overnight score of 79 for 1, skipper SZ Zuffri (50) and opener SB Saikia (38) took the score on to 123 when the captain departed for a catch to GH Banik off S Das Gupta. Thereafter, two more wickets fell to leave Assam in a spot of bother at 143 for 4. But Ganesh Kumar (47) and R Borah (77) added 122 runs for the fifth wicket. Ganesh Kumar, during his 106-minute stay at the crease, faced 87 balls and hit two fours and a six. Borah was at the crease for a minute over two hours and faced just 95 balls for his 77. In all he found the boundary ropes eight times and cleared it thrice.

After the departure of Ganesh Kumar, Sukhwindar Singh with the help of the lower order batsmen took the score to 387 for 8 when Assam declared. Sukhwinder who remained unbeaten on 68, was involved in a unfinished 66-run eighth wicket stand with S Subramaniam (13). In reply, Tripura were 18 for no loss in the 11 overs they received towards the end of the day.