Rana Sarma (left) and Kunal Saikia. Pictures by Eastern Projections

Hailakandi, Oct. 20: Middle order batsman Rana Sarma powered Assam to 222 for eight in the first innings at the end of the first day of the three-day C.K. Nayudu Trophy (under-22) East Zone campaign opener match against Orissa at S.M. Dev Stadium in Silchar today.

Winning the toss, the hosts elected to bat and suffered early setbacks as they lost four quick wickets. Gokul Sharma and Rana Sarma consolidated the innings with a 69-run fifth wicket stand and later Rana Sarma shared a 94-run seventh wicket stand with wicketkeeper-batsman Kunal Saikia.

Assam lost the early wickets of skipper Chandan Rawat (1), Arijit Sengupta (1), Abhijit Singha Roy (12) and Mrigen Talukdar (4) with the scoreboard reading only 22 for 4 in 11.3 overs.

However, the tandem of all-rounder Gokul Sharma (32) and Rana Sarma, who remained unbeaten on 76 at the end of the day, steadied the innings. After Gokul was caught out by Agnish Ray off a Rakesh Mohanty delivery in the 37th over, Ryan Ninan stepped in to partner Rana Sarma.

However, Ninan, too, could not negotiate the Orissa bowlers for long and was caught behind by glovesman Priyabrata off a Dipak Behara delivery.

Ninan was out for 11 (1x4) sharing a partnership of 20 runs with Rana.

Kunal Saikia (55) and Rana shared the best running between the wickets to steal singles and twos before the former was caught out by Krushna Mohanty off Dipak Behara.

Tailender local lad Pritam Das (4) also negotiated the Orissa bowlers for some time to strike a partnership with Rana giving the maximum strike opportunity to the latter.

Bichitra Baruah was unbeaten on nought at the other end with Rana when stumps were drawn for the day.

The Orissa bowlers, Basant Mohanty, Pritamjit Das, Dipak Behara and Rakesh Mohanty, shared two wickets each.