(Top) R. Satish and Sukhwinder Singh. Pictures by S.H. Patgiri

RANJI TROPHY

Guwahati, Nov. 24: The experience of Sukhwinder Singh and the robust talent of R. Satish today joined hands to help Assam pile up 537 for nine against Hyderabad on the second day of their Ranji Trophy match at NF Railway Stadium here.

In a rare display of domination, Assam consolidated on the base laid by the V. Saravanan (89), Syed Zakaria Zuffri (53) and captain and opener Parag Das (71). The flat and lifeless pitch and the stingless Hyderabad attack added to the advantage of playing at home for the hosts.

Batting with a half-fit shoulder, Singh even despatched the good balls to the fence in his third century for Assam, hitting three sixes and 12 fours in his entertaining 112. “I enjoyed batting and the ton against a strong side was more satisfying. The way Satish batted also allowed me to bat freely,” he said.

Together with Satish, he put up a decisive 190-run sixth-wicket partnership.

Singh, the highest wicket-taker (22) for Assam last season, said: “I met the doctor today and should be okay tomorrow. All our efforts will go waste if we can’t bowl well tomorrow.” The spinner already has six scalps from the first tie against Gujarat this season.

The 22-year-old Satish, a mechanical engineer with India Pistons, was equally jubilant after his first Ranji ton in four matches. His domination could be gauged from the 21 fours in his unbeaten 133.

“It has been a very satisfying knock. This is my second match against Hyderabad. In the last tie, I got a bad decision. In the second, I was unbeaten on 35. Now we have to make the most of a good start,” Satish, probably the best fielder in the side, said.

For the visitors, the only bright spot was the five-wicket haul for Shivaji Yadav. He returned figures of 48-12-140 -5.

Veteran left-arm spinner and captain Venkatapathy Raju claimed the last wickets to fall. “We really bowled badly. And now we will also be under psychological pressure because of the massive score. We have to plan our approach session by session now,” he said.

“The ball is in the bowler’s court now. All the batsmen did a fantastic job. After Saravanan and Zuffri’s mature innings, Satish and Sukhwinder took us to a position of strength. We will decide tomorrow morning whether to declare immediately,” Assam coach Abdul Jabbar Khan said. Saravanan departed after scoring nine runs to his overnight 89 while Zuffri added 19 to his 34.

A lot will depend on how medium-pacers Mark Ingty, the only replacement from the side that lost to Gujarat last week, and Gautam Dutta exploit the conditions.

An early breakthrough will give the spinners — Sukhwinder, R. Raghuram and Arlen Konwar —the time and confidence to keep on attacking.

Assam

First innings (overnight 330/3)

Parag b Yadav 71
Subhrajit c Reddy b Vaidhar 20
Powar c Khalil b Yadav 11
Saravanan c Khalil b Singh 89
Zuffri c Singh b Yadav 53
Satish not out 133
Sukhwinder b Yadav 112
Gautam st Khalil b Yadav 9
Raghuram b Raju 4
Ingty c Manohar b Raju 7

Extras: 28
Total (for 9 in 180.3 overs): 537
Fall of wickets: 1/42, 2/80, 3/141, 4/248, 5/281, 6/471, 7/503, 8/525, 9/537
Bowling: N.P. Singh 27-5-85-1, Bishnu Vaidhar 24-5-77-1, Daniel Manohar 12-1-36-0, Shivaji Yadav 48-12-140-5, Indu S. Reddy 34-10-91-0, Venkatapathy Raju 33.3-10-87-2, Arjun Yadav 1-0-2-0, Anirudh Singh 1-0-6-0