Ranji Trophy: All-round Riyan Parag keeps Assam alive vs Hyderabad

A fine spell by Riyan Parag (four for 48) ensured that Hyderabad didn’t run away with a big lead, before he scored a quickfire 78 to keep his side in the hunt.

Assam batsman Riyan Parag plays during the Ranji Trophy cricket championship match between Assam and Hyderabad, in Hyderabad on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. | Photo Credit: RAMAKRISHNA G

Hyderabad grabbed a slender first innings lead of three runs against Assam on the second day on Wednesday, even as the four-day Ranji Trophy Elite Group B match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium seemed to be heading for an outright result here.

Resuming at the overnight score of 78 for three, the home team scored 208 thanks primarily to southpaw Rohit Rayudu’s gritty knock (60, 169b, 6x4) and useful contributions from Buddhi Rahul (35, 71b, 6x4) and debutant Bhagath Varma (46, 60b, 4x4, 3x6). This was after Assam bowlers put on a splendid show in the morning session.

A confident Bhagath farmed the strike beautifully and also hit some lusty blows to achieve the first objective with a crucial 37-run stand for the last wicket with Kartikeya Kak.

A fine spell by Riyan Parag (four for 48) ensured that Hyderabad didn’t run away with a big lead. Sticking to the basics with a good line and length, he made the batters hurry up frequently.

In the second essay, Assam suffered early setbacks losing opener Rahul Hazarika (5) and captain Kunal Saikia (8) cheaply by the 10th over.

Then, it was a one-man show by the enterprising Riyan Parag (78, 28b, 8x4, 6x6), who batted as if his team was chasing a T-20 target, treating both pacers and spinners alike with some clean hitting.

Hyderabad bowlers were clueless when he was at the crease during the 101-run stand for the third wicket with Rishav Das (34, 47b, 6x4).

It took a superb catch in the deep by Rohit Rayudu, who ran from long-on to deep mid-wicket to latch on to a difficult chance, just inches off the ground, off pacer Ravi Teja to send back Parag.

This brought life into Hyderabad camp as soon Assam lost three more wickets, with off-spinner Bhagath Varma chipping in with two.

Assam finished the day 179 ahead with four wickets in hand and the match heading for a possible finish by tomorrow itself.

Scores

Assam - 1st innings 205

Hyderabad - 1st innings: Tanmay Agarwal c Hazarika b Akash 21, K. Rohit Rayudu st Kunal b Parag 60, M. Samhith Reddy c Akash b Mukhtar 11, Mickil Jaiswal b Mukhtar 4, Buddhi Rahul c Kunal b Sunil 35, Bhavesh Seth c Hazarika b Parag 4, T. Ravi Teja lbw b Parag 0, Tanay Thyagarajan c Gokul b Parag 5, Bhagath Varma c Akash b Sarmah 46, Ajay Dev Goud c Sunil b Mukhtar 8, Kartikeya Kak not out 4. Extras: (nb-6, b-4) 10

Total: (all out in 66.5 overs) 208.

Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-46, 3-50, 4-117, 5-133, 6-133, 7-139, 8-162, 9-171, 10-208.

Assam bowling: Mukhtar 22-2-62-3, Sunil 13-4-39-1, Parag 20-6-48-4, Akash 3-0-16-1, Sarupam 5-0-15-0, Sarmah 3.5-0-24-1.

Assam - 2nd innings: Kunal Saikia c Mickil b Kak 8, Rahul Hazarika c Bhavesh b Ravi Teja 5, Rishav Das c Bhavesh b Bhagath 34, Riyan Parag c Rohit b Ravi Teja 78, Sibsankar Roy c Bhavesh b Tanay 15, Gokul Sharma c Bhavesh b Bhagath 9, Sarupam Purkayastha batting 22, Akash Sengupta batting 4.

Extras: (nb-2, 2-4, lb-1) 7

Total: (for six wickets in 39 overs) 182

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-29, 3-130, 4-130, 5-146, 6-163.

Hyderabad bowling: Ravi Teja 8-1-26-2, Kak 9-2-35-1, Ajay Goud 8-1-55-0, Thyagarajan 8-0-50-1, Bhagath 5-0-14-2, Rohit 1-0-1-0.