Ranji Trophy 2015-16: Dinda strikes a huge blow on Assam

Ranji Trophy 2015-16: Dinda strikes a huge blow on Assam: Bowling figure of 2-2-0-4 is not what one gets to see/hear every day. However, this is what Ashok Dinda, playing for Bengal, returned with, by end day 2 in the ongoing final league game against Assam, being underway at Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Guwahati, Assam.

Earlier, the hosts, led by Gokul Sharma, opted to field, on winning the toss. The visitors had a shaky start, losing the opener, Abhimanyu Easwaran (8) with just 8 runs on the board. The second-wicket partnership of 140 runs between the other opener, Sayan Mondal (87, 283m, 193b, 10 fours) and the young batting sensation, Sudip Chatterjee (65, 212m, 151b, 7 fours), steadied the innings.

Thereafter, the sixth-wicket partnership of 174 runs between the wicket-keeper, Srivats Goswami (112*, 409m, 253b, 11 fours) and Pankaj Shaw (99, 241m, 189b, 10 fours, 1 six), enabled Bengal to put up a huge total of 444/6 decl in their first innings.

Goswami remained unbeaten and registered his maiden first-class century in his 28th game (44th innings). Shaw, who made his first-class debut in the tournament opener this season, missed out on his maiden century by a solitary run.

Medium pacer Krishna Das and the off-spinner-skipper, Gokul Sharma, for Assam, picked up a couple of wickets each. Bengal’s innings lasted for 158 overs and five sessions.

Commencing their reply nothing went Assam’s way. In just a span of four overs, they lost the openers, Pallab Kumar Das (0), Rahul Hazarika (1), the skipper Gokul Sharma (0) and Arup Das (0).

All the four wickets were claimed by Ashok Dinda, who was at his best and ripped through the Assam’s top order. Dinda, who had 298 wickets from 84 games (140 innings) at the commencement of this game against Assam, went on to reach the landmark of 300 first-class wickets when he had Gokul Sharma, caught behind by Srivats Goswami.

In the ongoing tournament, Dinda has picked up 28 wickets from 8 games (13 innings), including the ongoing one, thus far. He carried on from where he left in the game against Odisha, in which he picked up 7 wickets in the second innings and helping Bengal to win the game in just 2 days time. The pitch came ‘under flak’ since 40 wickets fell over two days.

Assam ended day 2 with a solitary run on the board, losing four wickets. They are still trailing by 443 runs with six wickets in hand. By the way the game has panned out, a result seems to be a possibility and in that event, Bengal would move into the knock-out round.