Ranji Trophy | Denish and Purkayastha give Assam the first-innings lead against TN

On cloud nine: Denish led from the front for Assam with a superb century.
| Photo Credit: RITU RAJ KONWAR

Skipper Denish Das scored his maiden First Class century while Swarupam Purkayastha missed out on a ton as Assam dominated proceedings on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-D match against Tamil Nadu at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium here on Friday.

Resuming at 176 for three, the home team rode on Denish’s superb 109 (195b, 14×4) and Purkayastha’s 90 (131b, 10×4, 3×6) to make a huge score of 445 in the first innings to secure a 107-run lead.

Tamil Nadu ended the day at eight for no loss, trailing by 99 runs.

Denish and southpaw Sibsankar Roy, who made 69 (208b, 9×4) were involved in a massive 173-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which turned the game in Assam’s favour. The two went about the business of gathering runs in a clinical manner even as the Tamil Nadu bowlers tried their best but in vain.

Denish fell to off-spinner S. Mohamed Ali against the run of play just when he looked set for a big score.

Sibsankar became the first of Pradosh Ranjan Paul’s three scalps, when he was caught close-in by S. Lokeshwar.

Wicketkeeper-batter Sumit Ghadigaonkar (20), the team’s highest run-getter so far this season, played fluently but was done in by debutant pacer R.D. Pranav Ragavendra as he nicked one to ’keeper Jagadeesan.

Crucial partnership

With the hosts 17 runs behind and Tamil Nadu aiming to wrap up the innings quickly, Mukthar Hussain (35, 77b, 4×4) stepped up superbly and his 91-run stand with Purkayastha shut the door on the opposition.

Purkayastha, who was not averse to taking the aerial route, fell 10 short of a century, but had done enough for Assam.

Skipper R. Sai Kishore didn’t bowl today for reasons not known. Pradosh picked up three wickets. Mohamed Ali and Pranav took two apiece for the visitors.

The scores:

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 338.

Assam — 1st innings: Parvej Musaraf lbw b Sonu 18, Rishav Das c Andre b Gurjapneet 54, Subham Mandal c Jagadeesan b Mohamed Ali 16, Denish Das b Mohamed Ali 109, Sibsankar Roy c Lokeshwar b Pradosh 69, Sumit Ghadigaonkar c Jagadeesan b Pranav 20, Swarupam Purkayastha c Shahrukh b Pradosh 90, Mukthar Hussain c Jagadeesan b Pradosh 35, Mrinmoy Dutta b Shahrukh 6, Rahul Singh b Pranav 4, Darshan Rajbangshi (not out) 0; Extras (b-10, lb-7, w-4, nb-3): 24; Total (in 146.2 overs): 445.

Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-89, 3-105, 4-278, 5-290, 6-321, 7-412, 8-435, 9-441.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Gurjapneet 22-7-62-1, Pranav 23.2-0-108-2, Sonu 24-3-76-1, Sai Kishore 8.5-1-18-0, Pradosh 13.1-3-45-3, Mohamed Ali 35-9-79-2, Vijay Shankar 15-7-23-0, Shahrukh 5-1-17-1.

Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: S. Lokeshwar (batting) 2, N. Jagadeesan (batting) 5; Extras (nb-1): 1; Total (for no loss in four overs): 8.

Assam bowling: Mukhtar 2-1-3-0, Mrinmoy 1-0-4-0, Rahul 1-0-1-0.