Ranji Trophy: Silchar’s Rahul Singh picks 4 wickets, but Gujarat tightens grip against Assam

Gujarat tightened their grip on the Group C opener at the Narendra Modi Stadium, stretching a 72-run first-innings lead and then prising out three Assam wickets under lights, to leave the visitors tottering at 28 for 3 and still 44 in arrears going into the final day.

Assam’s fight was led by Silchar left-arm spinner Rahul Singh, whose wholehearted 24.5-over spell (4/93) was the reason Gujarat didn’t run away with it after a commanding platform. He removed captain Manan Hingrajia (14), Umang Kumar (35), V Jaiswal (55) and Arzan Nagwaswalla (5) to puncture the middle and lower order, ensuring Assam stayed in the game.

Equally central to Assam’s resistance across the first two days was Riyan Parag. The all-rounder’s probing slow bowling fetched a high-class 4 for 86, including a burst through the middle that briefly checked Gujarat’s tempo. Earlier, Parag’s 40 with the bat had complemented Sibsankar Roy’s stoic 113 and Pradyun Saikia’s polished 70 in Assam’s first innings of 310.

Gujarat, though, owned the morning and afternoon sessions. Debutant opener Aarya Desai compiled a neat 101, while partner Abhishek Desai fell four short of a century on 96; their 201-run opening stand set the tone. Later, Vishal Jayswal’s brisk 55 added heft as the hosts posted 382.

If Rahul and Parag gave Assam hope, Gujarat’s left-arm spin pair dimmed it just as quickly in the evening. Siddharth Desai found a sharp dip to nick off Saikia (15) and then had Parvej Musaraf (7) held close in, before Jayswal snared skipper Denish Das for a duck. When stumps were drawn, Mukhtar Hussain (6*) and Riyan Parag (0*) were in survival mode, with a long tail and Sibsankar Roy and Rahul Singh still to come.

For Assam to salvage a draw — let alone tilt at a heist — the first hour on Day 4 must be attritional and error-free. Parag will need to switch seamlessly from crisis management to counter-punch, Roy must reprise his first-innings discipline, and the lower order — Rahul included — will have to fight for every run. Gujarat, meanwhile, have the scoreboard, the surface and the spin to press home advantage; one cluster of wickets should hand them a chase of modest proportions.

Key Performers

Gujarat: Aarya Desai 101, Abhishek Desai 96, Vishal Jayswal 55; with the ball (Assam 1st inns) Siddharth Desai 3/68, Arzan Nagwaswalla 2/54, Vishal Jayswal 2/68; (Assam 2nd inns) Siddharth Desai 2/6, Vishal Jayswal 1/5.

Assam: Sibsankar Roy 113, Pradyun Saikia 70, Riyan Parag 40; Rahul Singh 4/93, Riyan Parag 4/86.

State of Play at Stumps, Day 3

Assam 310 & 28/3 in 17 overs (Saikia 15, Musaraf 7, Das 0; S Desai 2/6, V Jayswal 1/5)

Gujarat 382 (Aarya Desai 101, Abhishek Desai 96, Vishal Jayswal 55; Rahul Singh 4/93, Riyan Parag 4/86)

Assam trail by 44 runs with seven wickets in hand.