Excelsior Sports Correspondent
GUWAHATI, Dec 3: Power-packed centuries by talented Parvez Rasool Zargar and skipper Ian Dev Singh, helped Jammu and Kashmir to set a tough target of 477 runs for Assam, before declaring their second innings at 318 for the loss of 5 wickets at tea on day-3 of the ongoing Ranji Trophy Group-C match at Nehru Stadium, here today.
In reply, Assam were struggling at 46/3 when the stumps were drawn today. Dheeraj Jadhav (16) and Gokul (0) were at the crease.
Now, with full last day’s play left in the match, Assam have an uphill task at hand to stop J&K from an outright victory. The only hurdle in J&K’s outright victory seems to be in form Dheeraj Jadhav, who was dropped by Adil Reshi after the bowling of Parvez Rasool at his individual score of 1 run and the team’s total of 6/2 in seventh over of the match.
Earlier, resuming from an over-night score of 1/0 with a total lead of 159 runs, J&K openers Adil Reshi and Ian Dev Singh played fabulously to make a partnership of 77 runs before Adil was trapped LBW by left-arm spinner Syed Mohammad at his individual score of 51 runs off 77 balls, studded with 6 boundaries and 2 massive sixes. Ian was joined by number 3 batsman Bandeep Singh, who scored brisk 19 runs off 28 balls with 2 boundaries and one huge six, sending the ball out of the stadium. He nicked an out-going delivery of Abu Nechim Ahmed straight into the hands of wicket-keeper Kunal Saikia.
Then came in promising Parvez Rasool at number 4, who along with his skipper sent the rival bowlers on a leather-hunt in a big partnership of 198 runs to take their side to a comfort zone. Both of them were a treat to watch as played shots with elegance, fluid grace, utmost timing and pure brilliance. They kept the score board moving and played the balls on merit to help their side reach to a stage where from they have least chances of losing. Ian scored 118 runs, which included delectable 15 boundaries and 2 sixes, while Parvez slammed unbeaten 120 runs, studded with 17 magnificent boundaries and 2 sixes. Hardeep Singh (4) and Manik Gupta (00) were the two batsmen to fell cheaply.
For Assam, spinners Arlen Konwar and Syed Mohammed bagged 2 wickets each, while medium pacer Abu Nechim Ahmed claimed one.
While chasing a mammoth total of 477 runs, Assam were tottering at 46/3 in 25 overs bowled by J&K bowlers today. Speedster Ram Dayal bowled an excellent spell of 6 overs, scalping 2 important wickets of Pallav Das (00) and Kumar Saikia (00), while Ian Dev Singh got rid of dangerous looking Sinsankar Roy at his individual score of 29 runs off 75 balls including 4 boundaries. Assam have a long way to go as they are still 431 runs behind their required target, with 7 wickets in hand and a full last day’s play left in the game.
It may be recalled that Assam are the table toppers in Group-C of Ranji Trophy, with 12 points in their kitty so far in the current season. A win here, which seems almost certain, would boast morale of young brigade of Jammu and Kashmir.
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