KOLKATA: Medium pacer
Mukhtar Hussain
was the star of the day as he helped to add to the good work of the Assam batters by reducing Bihar to 134 for the loss of five wickets and trailing the hosts by 271 runs in their Group B
Ranji Trophy
encounter in Guwahati on Saturday.
Hussain claimed three wickets to topple the Bihar top order and keep the hosts on the path to getting a crucial first-innings lead.
Ranjeet Mali and Mrinmoy Dutta, too, claimed a wicket each as wicketkeeper-batter Bipin Saurabh proved to be the highest run-getter for Bihar with a fighting 39.
When stumps were called on the second day's play, the visitors were on 134 for five chasing Assam's first-innings total of 405.
Earlier, resuming Day 2 on 235 for five,
Abhishek
Thakuri added 23 more runs to his overnight total to score a vital century for the hosts. He went to score 115 before sending a catch to Vipul Krishna off a Veer Pratap Singh delivery.
His overnight partner and Assam No. 10 batter, too, added a crucial 72 runs to the Assam total to stay unbeaten at the end of the innings. No. 11 batter
Rahul Singh
also added 29 important runs as the hosts ended the first innings on 405.
Sakibul Gani was the most successful of the Bihar bowlers claiming four wickets while giving away 91 runs in his 32 overs. Ranjit Mali and Mrinmoy Dutta, too, claimed a wicket each.
Meanwhile, Bihar encountered early setbacks with Piyush Singh getting out for a duck, while the other opener Sharman Nigrodh retired hurt without opening the account. Gani (10) also departed early before Saurabh's 39 and Paramjeet Singh's unbeaten 26 steadied the ship a little.
Paramjeet and Veer Pratap (11 batting) were at the crease when stumps were called.
Brief score: Assam 405 (P Musaraf 89, A Thakuri 115, M Dutta 72 n.o.; Gani 4/91). Bihar 134/5 (B Saurabh 39, P Singh 26 batting; Hussain 3/16)
Match to continue
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