Ritesh and Shikhar take five wickets each as Karnataka dominate Assam
Spinners Ritesh Bhatkal and Shikhar Shetty dismantled the Assam batting lineup to bowl them out for 135 in Guwahati.
Spinners Ritesh Bhatkal and Shikhar Shetty claimed five wickets each to help Karnataka bowl out Assam for 135 on Monday. The Ranji Trophy Elite Group B encounter at the ACA Stadium in Guwahati saw Karnataka reach 180 for two by the end of the first day, according to The Hindu.
After Assam won the toss and elected to bat, Karnataka captain Shreyas Gopal introduced spin from the seventh over. Despite a green appearance on the surface, the pitch proved to be dry and grippy, allowing the spinners to exploit the conditions.
Assam captain Denish Das scored 26 and Sibsankar Roy made 37 during a 63-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Ritesh Bhatkal finished with figures of 5 for 35, while Shikhar Shetty recorded 5 for 53, marking his third five-wicket haul this season.
In response, Karnataka openers Rohan Patil and Mayank scored 89 and 57 not out, respectively. The pair shared a 129-run opening partnership before Patil was caught by Sibsankar Roy off the bowling of Amlanjyoti Das.
Karnataka ended the opening day 45 runs ahead of Assam. Amlanjyoti Das took 2 for 51 for Assam during the first innings.