Amit Verma's patient unbeaten 74 guided Assam to 193/7 against Saurashtra on the opening day of the semifinal of the Ranji Trophy cricket tournament in Vadodara on Saturday.
Asked to bat, Assam were in a spot of bother as the first three batsmen fell for just 25 runs before Verma and KB Arun Karthik (59) stabilised the innings with a 127-run stand for the fourth wicket.
Verma faced as many 210 balls during his unbeaten knock and hit 11 boundaries, while Arun Karthik's fifty came off 144 deliveries with the help of six fours and one hit over the fence.
But Assam lost the plot once again when Arun Karthik was bowled by Hardik Rathod as three more wickets fell in quick sucession to make life difficult for the Eastern side which is featuring in its first Ranji Trophy semifinal appearance.
At stumps, Dhiraj Goswami (7 not out) was giving Verma company at the crease with Assam playing 78 overs in the day.
For Saurashtra, pace duo of Rathod (3/37) and Jaydev Unadkat (3/60) shared six wickets between them.
Brief Scores:
Assam first innings: 193/7 in 78 overs (Amit Verma 74 not out, KB Arun Karthik 59; Hardik Rathod 3/37, Jaydev Unadkat 3/60).
Ranji Trophy Semi-Finals: Jaydev Unadkat Strikes Restrict Assam To 193/7 On Opening Day
Advertisement
Jaydev Unadkat picked up three wickets before fifties from Arun Karthik and Amit Verma helped Assam to 193/7 on the first day of the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Saurashtra.
Jaydev Unadkat picked up three wickets on the opening day of the Ranji Trophy semi-final between Saurashtra and Assam.© AFP