Ranji Trophy 2025/26
GROUP C
Tinsukia, Oct 25: Services bowlers Arjun Sharma and Mohit Jangra recorded the first-ever instance of two bowlers taking hat-tricks in the history of the Ranji Trophy in their Elite Group C match against Assam here on Saturday.
On a day where a whopping 25 wickets fell with Assam being bowled out twice, they still had a lead of 51 runs in the second innings reaching 56 for five in their second essay here at the Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground.
Assam were bowled out for 103 with Jangra returning 4-2-5-3 and Arjun taking 5/46 in his 6.1 overs and in reply, the home team struck hard as they bundled Services for 108 with a slender lead of five runs.
India player Riyan Parag led the charge for Assam as he claimed 5/25 in his 10 overs and Rahul Singh took 4/44 to help their side bounce back in the contest strongly.However, Assam did not have a successful time with the bat in their second essay as they slipped to 56 for five by the time the stumps were drawn, leading by 51 runs in the second innings with Sumit Ghadigaonkar (17 not out) and Sibsankar Roy at the crease.Arjun began with getting Parag caught by Mohit Ahlawat for 36 on the third ball of the 12th over of Assam’s first innings and on the following two deliveries, he dismissed Ghadigaonkar and Roy to complete his hat-trick.The innings came to a rapid close for Assam who had slipped to 5/2 and then 45/5, when Jangra got into action to end Pradyun Saikia’s (52) resistance, getting him caught by Rajat Paliwal on the final ball of the 15th over.He returned in the 17th over to dismiss Mukhtar Hussain (1) and Bhargab Lakhar (0) on the first two deliveries as Assam were shot out for 103 in only 17.2 overs.In another Group C match, half-centuries from Sudeep Gharami (56), Abhishek Porel (51) and Sumanta Gupta’s unbeaten 58 took Bengal to 244 for seven in 72 overs against Gujarat at the Eden Gardens.
The hosts had slipped from 75 for one to 95 for four at one stage but fought hard till the end of the day’s play to have a respectable score on the board. For Gujarat, Siddharth Desai took 3/55.
At Ramnagar, visitors Railways were bolstered by Mohammad Saif’s strokeful 99 not out as they closed the day’s play reaching 233 for four. (PTI)
