Time to wrap up this coverage, folks! For now, it's me, Deepak Prakash, signing off on behalf of scorer/analyst Sachin Yadav. CHEERS!
Player of the Match: Mukhtar Hussain
8:04 PM IST, Local Time: A massive collapse in the middle saw Chhattisgarh lose 5 wickets in 7 balls, ultimately getting bowled out for 119 runs. Assam win by 48 runs and register their first victory of the season. Earlier, Assam finish with 167/9, a total that once promised 180+ before Chhattisgarh triggered a late collapse. The top order flourished through Sumit Ghadigaonkar’s explosive 79 (49) and Pradyun Saikia’s 37 (29), their 95-run opening stand laying a strong platform. But momentum faded quickly, with wickets tumbling in clusters — a slide from 160/5 to 165/9 in the final overs halting their progress. Riyan Parag (15) and Nihar Deka (22 off 14)* offered support, though the finishing kick never arrived. Chhattisgarh’s bowlers executed well at the back end, led by Sourabh Majumdar (2/26), Ravi Kiran (2/29) and Shubham Agarwal (2/33), with Ajay Jadav Mandal striking once to further tighten the screws. In reply, Chhattisgarh lost Aayush Pandey for a duck in the opening over, but Amandeep Khare (46) and Shashank Chandrakar (30) steadied the innings with a 43-run stand for the second wicket before Chandrakar’s brisk knock was cut short by Mrinmoy Dutta. What followed was a dramatic collapse. The middle and lower order crumbled completely as Chhattisgarh slipped from 118/5 to 119/10 in the space of just seven balls, with six batters dismissed for single-digit scores. Mukhtar Hussain was the chief destroyer, producing a brilliant spell of 6/20 in four overs, including four wickets in one over, ripping through the batting lineup and triggering the collapse. Bhargab Lahkar (2/12) supported him well with two wickets, while Avinav Choudhury and Mrinmoy Dutta picked up one each.
W BOWLED'EM! That's it! Chhattisgarh have lost 5 wickets in 7 balls, and they are folded for 119 runs. Assam win by 48 runs to secure their first points of the season. Short of a length delivery on the stumps. Dev clears his front leg and pulls at it but misses it completelty and the ball goes on to rattle the stumps.