Ranji: Tripura dominate Assam but only for a draw
Tripura dominated with bat and ball for most of the match, but Shib Shankar Roy’s masterclass under pressure turned the tide. His unbeaten ton not only salvaged Assam’s pride but also left Tripura reflecting on missed opportunities.
Agartala, Nov 11: Tripura’s Ranji Trophy victory in this season slipped away on the final day at MBB Stadium, as Assam’s seasoned campaigner Shib Shankar Roy produced a match-saving century to force a draw.
Despite dominating much of the contest, Tripura had to settle for three points from their first-innings lead, while Assam escaped with a valuable point.
Tripura had set up a commanding position after posting a mammoth 602 for 7 declared in their first innings.
Their bowlers then bundled out Assam for 238, enforcing the follow-on. However, the visitors showed remarkable resilience in the second innings, finishing at 367 for 7 when stumps were drawn.
Shib Shankar Roy, who had already contributed in the first innings, once again anchored Assam’s fightback. Coming in at a tense moment, he remained unbeaten on 101 off 141 balls, striking 17 boundaries and two sixes. His composed knock frustrated the hosts, turning what seemed like a certain victory into a hard-fought stalemate.
Tripura captain Danish Das had earlier provided a glimmer of hope with his all-round effort — taking a crucial wicket before crafting a gritty 103 off 197 balls with 14 fours in the second innings.
Partnered by S.C. Ghandigaonkar (54 off 161 balls), Danish put on a patient 150-run stand for the fourth wicket, which temporarily tilted momentum in Tripura’s favor.
But the day ultimately belonged to Shib Shankar Roy. With Anshuman Malakar (21 not out) offering steady support, Roy guided Assam safely through the final session.
Tripura’s bowling unit worked tirelessly on the final day but couldn’t break Assam’s resistance. Ajay Sarkar led the attack with 3 for 70, while Swapnil Singh claimed 2 for 88 and Rana Dutta chipped in with 1 for 34. Despite their disciplined effort, the pitch offered little assistance by the closing stages, aiding Assam’s survival bid.
The draw left Tripura with six points after four matches, a fair reflection of their improved yet inconsistent campaign so far.
Tripura will now face Railways from November 16 to 19, a fixture that offers another opportunity to secure their elusive first victory of the season.
