Assam vs Tripura:
Guwahati, Dec. 7: Host Assam’s morale is running high after registering back-to-back wins against Kerala in Silchar and Services during the last two weeks.
The team will now look for an outright win against Tripura to be invincible in second place in the group tally with 16 points.
Tripura, however, will be no pushovers, after registering a four-wicket win against Kerala in Agartala this week.
The crucial Ranji Trophy Plate Group A four-day league match will be held at Nehru Stadium in Guwahati from Sunday.
Assam has 11 points and Tripura eight from four matches each.
Assam need only three points by virtue of a first innings lead from a drawn encounter to seal their berth in the knockouts.
Gujarat lead the group A tally with 22 points from four matches and meet Kerala -- with eight points -- in Ahmedabad from Sunday.
Orissa eliminated Assam in the semifinals last year at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
Assam have flown in Bangalore professional left arm spinner Anand Katti to replace Tamil Nadu recruit all-rounder S. Suresh in the match. Suresh had injured his finger in the last match against Services. The Assam Cricket Association will name the state squad for the match tomorrow.
Sources said barring Katti replacing Suresh, there would hardly be any change in the winning combination. The playing XI will have Krishna Das and Mrigen Talukdar as medium pacers and Katti and Arlen Konwar as the spinners. Katti’s inclusion will reinforce the spin attack. “Arlen Konwar will now be able to bowl without pressure, with Katti as a back-up,” said team manager Umananda Bora.
With Suresh out of the squad, either Saurav Bhagawati or Souvik Das will make the cut as a top order batsman and the fifth bowler for the team will be either Bichitra Baruah or Dhiraj Goswami. Tripura, on the other hand, have a promising batting line-up comprising Timir Chanda, Kishore Muhuri, Rajib Dutta, Rajesh Banik and Subal Chowdhury, who would definitely look forward to the batting track of the Nehru Stadium wicket with a fast outfield for some handsome scores.
The toss will once again play a vital role even after the Assam team management has, this time, impressed upon the ground committee to prepare a sporty track after surviving a scare on a purely batting track in the earlier match against Services.
Posted on: The Telegraph
Showing posts with label Anand Katti. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anand Katti. Show all posts
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Ranji Plate Division Group A Match
Assam’s Suresh to miss tie against Tripura:
Guwahati: An injury will be keeping all-rounder S Suresh, one of the most consistent performers of the Assam Ranji team this season, out of Assam’s crucial tie against Tripura starting on December 9.
One of three outstation recruits, Suresh had injured his finger while attempting a catch yesterday against Services. He missed out on all the action that saw his Tamil Nadu mates -- captain Sridharan Sharath and Sadagopan Ramesh -- bat Services out for a memorable win chasing 305 in 78 overs.
Confined to the hotel room, Suresh looked his usual self -- calm, composed and hopeful. “It is all part of the game. The stitches will be removed after seven days and in another three days I should start doing my usual stuff. The good news is that I will be fit before the semifinals, if everything goes well against Tripura,” the all-rounder said.
Guwahati: An injury will be keeping all-rounder S Suresh, one of the most consistent performers of the Assam Ranji team this season, out of Assam’s crucial tie against Tripura starting on December 9.
One of three outstation recruits, Suresh had injured his finger while attempting a catch yesterday against Services. He missed out on all the action that saw his Tamil Nadu mates -- captain Sridharan Sharath and Sadagopan Ramesh -- bat Services out for a memorable win chasing 305 in 78 overs.
Confined to the hotel room, Suresh looked his usual self -- calm, composed and hopeful. “It is all part of the game. The stitches will be removed after seven days and in another three days I should start doing my usual stuff. The good news is that I will be fit before the semifinals, if everything goes well against Tripura,” the all-rounder said.
Assam, with 11 points, need to take a first innings lead against Tripura to join Gujarat in the semi-finals.
A draw, which fetches one point, will also keep them in the hunt. The semi-finals are scheduled between December 25 and 28.
However, Suresh’s injury has only made the job of the team think tank and the selectors that much harder. He has 12 wickets and 187 runs from six innings, third highest after Sharath (239) and Ramesh (203).
However, Suresh’s injury has only made the job of the team think tank and the selectors that much harder. He has 12 wickets and 187 runs from six innings, third highest after Sharath (239) and Ramesh (203).
Reports from the ACA suggest that spinner Anand Katti has been sounded out for the Tripura match as the third outstation recruit.
“It is not yet final but since he can both bat and bowl, he is an option. We need a steady spinner. There is also a strong possibility of Tajinder Singh getting another chance before the big one,” one of them said.
A section feels that bringing in Katti for one match has no meaning as Suresh, if fit, will be back for the semis, if the team qualifies. Those in his favour say that he has to be sounded out as he will be the cover for all the three outstation recruits.
Sources pointed out that stress will be on strengthening the batting and that the team will remain unchanged to give the boys another chance to book their berths for the semifinals, most likely to be played at a neutral venue and against Railways.
The Ranji team will be announced tomorrow, barring last-minute changes.
“The home-bred players get one more chance. Thirty-forty runs will not be enough to ensure a seat; neither will two or three wickets do the trick. They have to consistently perform like they did yesterday against Services,” one of them said.
A couple of players have already been sounded out to perform or perish.
“It is not yet final but since he can both bat and bowl, he is an option. We need a steady spinner. There is also a strong possibility of Tajinder Singh getting another chance before the big one,” one of them said.
A section feels that bringing in Katti for one match has no meaning as Suresh, if fit, will be back for the semis, if the team qualifies. Those in his favour say that he has to be sounded out as he will be the cover for all the three outstation recruits.
Sources pointed out that stress will be on strengthening the batting and that the team will remain unchanged to give the boys another chance to book their berths for the semifinals, most likely to be played at a neutral venue and against Railways.
The Ranji team will be announced tomorrow, barring last-minute changes.
“The home-bred players get one more chance. Thirty-forty runs will not be enough to ensure a seat; neither will two or three wickets do the trick. They have to consistently perform like they did yesterday against Services,” one of them said.
A couple of players have already been sounded out to perform or perish.
Posted on: The Telegrpah (December 6)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
