Calcutta: Assam won at a canter against Tripura in a zonal match of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy at the Eden on Friday. The seven-wicket victory showed the gap between the two teams.

Tripura managed just 85 in 16.5 overs and Assam raced to the target in 12.1 overs losing three wickets in the process.

The architect of the Assam win was Pritam Das, the 29-year-old pacer. He finished with a haul of five wickets for just nine runs and coach Sunil Joshi at the end of the tie gave him the match ball.

Pritam triggered the collapse in the very second over getting rid of Udiyan Bose. Udiyan was in a punishing mood against Jharkhand but on Friday he did not have any answer to Pritam's rising delivery. The pitch had bounce and there was enough lateral movement which troubled the Tripura batsmen.

Bishal Ghosh was the next man to go when Arup Das trapped him plumb in front. Smit Patel also faltered making 20 runs.

Only captain Manisankar Murasingh managed to put up a semblance of resistance. He made 32 off 28 deliveries hitting two fours and two sixes. Just when one thought that Tripura might score a 'hundred', Pritam castled Murasingh.

At that time Tripura were six for 76 and the next four wickets fell for just nine runs.

Brief scores: Tripura 85 in 16.5 ovs (P. Das 5/9). Assam 86/3 in 12.1 ovs (S. Roy 35n.o.). Assam won by 7 wickets.