Asom collapse to 100 for six

Cuttack, Jan 12 (UNI) Asom collapsed to 100 for six in their second innings after taking a meagre first innings lead of two runs at the close of play on the third day of Ranji trophy semi final against Orissa at Barbati stadium here today.

Batting was difficult on a pitch which kept treacherously low.

Seamer Debashis Mohanty was ably supported by Sourav Sehgal as the Orissa bowlers fought back claiming wickets at regular interval.

Opener Pervez Aziz was the only Asom batsmen who stood firm as wicket tumbled around him. As many as five of the Asom batsmen failed to reach the double figures while Pervez scored half century before being dismissed by Prabhanjan Mallick.

At close of play, Nishant Bardoloi and Dhiraj Goswami were not out with 19 and 4 runs respectively.

Of the Orissa bowlers, Sourav Sehgal had a brilliant spell of six overs in which he claimed two wickets conceding just one run and Debashis Mohanty had figures of 3 for 29.

Earlier resuming their overnight score of 186 for seven, host Orissa failed to stretch their first innings total and were all out at 233 adding only 47 runs.

Harihar Das, who was 39 overnight, could add only one run to his score. Sourav Sehgal remained unbeaten with 17 and the Orissa first innings folded up two runs short of the Asom total.

For Assam, Pritam Das had figures of 5 for 65 and Dhiraj Goswami claimed 2 for 44 runs.

Brief Score: Asom 1st Innings 235 all out (Tazinder Singh 43, Nishant Bordoloi 40, Debashis Mohanty 5 for 66, Sukant Khatua 3 for 44 ) Orissa Ist Innings 233 all out (Prabhanjan Mallick 57, Haladhar Das 40, Pritam Das 5 for 65 and Dhiraj Goswami 2 for 44).

Asom 2nd Innings: 100 for seven (Pervez Aziz 50, Debashis Mohanty 3 for 29, Sourav Sehgal 2 for 1) UNI