A Silchar batsman plays a shot at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, March 24: Bhaskarjyoti Barman and Bitop Mahanta today all but spun hosts Guwahati into the final of the senior inter-district (elite group) championship for the Nuruddin Ahmed Trophy at Nehru Stadium here.

On the penultimate day of the four-day semi-final here, the seasoned duo left visiting Silchar, chasing a mammoth 390 for victory after conceding 122-run first innings lead, languishing at 150 at the loss of seven in 48 overs. Mahanta snared four wickets for 30 and Barman picked up three for 61. The duo were also involved in a 71-run ninth-wicket partnership that helped Guwahati post a respectable 267 on board in 83 overs after resuming the day at 119 for one.

Mahanta started the slide by removing opener Bijender Singh (25) with Silchar placed at a decent 60. Barman then sent home the other opener Raju Das (31) to leave Silchar at 78 for two. The duo then ripped through the Silchar line-up, taking the next five wickets for 90 runs with only Dipak Sarma putting up some resistance with a cameo 35.

At draw of stumps, Samik Das was on the crease at seven and Arimdom Chakraborty on 12. Silchar needs nothing short of a miracle now to chase down the remaining 240 runs to win because the track will only keep low and turn more on the last day.

Resuming at 119 for one in the second innings, hosts Guwahati were dismissed for 267 in 83 overs. Overnight batsmen Rishav Das (62), Gokul Sarma (63), skipper Nishanta Bordoloi (37), Mahanta (34) and Barman (22) were the main contributors with the bat. For Silchar, Dipak Sarma claimed six for 105 and B. Sehwag three for 71.

Silchar, last year’s runners-up, had conceded a 122-run first innings lead after folding up at 128 chasing the hosts’ first innings total of 250.