Bihar turn the tables on Assam

After having conceded the first innings lead to Assam, Bihar came back strongly to score a three wicket win in the East Zone Under-22 tournament match at the Mangaldoi Sports Association Ground in Mangaldoi on Thursday.

Set to score 259 for a win on the final day and moreover with just under two sessions of play left, Bihar were put on the right course, after the early loss of opener A Vidhyarti (9), by a 132-run second wicket stand between S Hussain (76) and skipper Neeraj Kumar (64). Thereafter, the middle order chipped in with some useful contributions to take Bihar home in 47 overs.

On the opening day, opting to bat, Assam came up against some good seam bowling by Rajesh Thakur and Chakraborthy. Claiming eight of the Assam wickets, the duo skittled out the opponents for just 188. Bihar in response conceded a 30-run first innings lead. The fact that only four of their batsmen crossed the double digits did not help their cause. Assam with their tails up on taking the slender lead, scored 228 for nine declared the second time around. The openers RM Gohain (64) and PJ Das (88) who shared a 110-run stand were the mainstays in the innings.