Ranji Trophy Day 2: Assam’s batting on fire, Punjab left scrambling

When the clouds finally cleared over New Chandigarh, the nervous chatter in the Assam dressing‑room turned into outright confidence. After a first‑day collapse to 23 for three, the two openers rebuilt the innings with a partnership that looked effortless.

Denish Das, who had been struggling early on, found his rhythm and drove a couple of full‑length deliveries from Harpreet Brar for fours, eventually reaching his century on 186 balls. He finished on 103, smashing four fours but no sixes – a textbook display of patience and measured aggression.

It was Sibsankar Roy who stole the limelight. From a quiet start, he started to carve the ball away, sending two over‑pitched deliveries from Umesh Yadav straight to the fence. By the time he was on 143 not‑out off 295 balls, his strokes were fluid, featuring 20 fours and a solitary six. The 168‑run partnership they forged not only rescued Assam but pushed the total to a daunting 373.

Punjab’s bowlers tried everything. Umesh Yadav, with a tidy spell, claimed three of the final five wickets, ending with five for 70. Gurnoor Brar and Harjas Tandon peppered the line‑up with short‑ball and tight lines, but the Assamese batsmen navigated the threats, especially the spinners, with calm runs between the wickets.

When Punjab finally came out to bat, the early overs were a blur of no‑balls from Dipjyoti Saikia and a cautious opening pair of Vihaan Malhotra and Harnoor Pannu, who survived until stumps. Their start was modest, and a 66‑run knock from Sarupam Purkayastha (66 off 87 balls) was the only bright spot, as the visitors struggled to build momentum.

Overall, Day 2 swung heavily in Assam’s favour. The easing conditions allowed both openers to settle, and their centuries will be remembered as the turning point of the match. Punjab will now have to regroup and hope for a breakthrough on Day 3.