Ranji Trophy 2026-27 | Denish and Sibsankar’s centuries propel Assam to 373

As the rain clouds dissipated, so did the batters’ hesitation, and Assam turned the tables on the second day of its Ranji Trophy round one match against Punjab at the New PCA Stadium here on Monday.

Denish Das (103, 186b, 15x4) and Sibsankar Roy (143 n.o., 295b, 20x4, 1x6) made the most of easing conditions and their 168-run partnership, which began at 23 for three on the opening day, catapulted Assam to 373.

After not adding a run for the opening 34 minutes, Sibsankar lapped up two overpitched deliveries from Umesh Yadav for straight- and square-driven boundaries. Though a flick off Gurnoor Brar was the only early boundary for Denish, he pocketed plenty by running between the wickets.

It was the onset of spinners that really allowed them to assert control. Sibsankar pranced down to Emanjot Singh Chahal twice to hoist down the ground for 10 runs.

Denish was examined by Gurnoor’s short-ball ploy, with the traps set at deep fine-leg, deep square-leg, short-leg, short mid-wicket and short mid-on. Denish refrained from any extravagant shot and navigated the period.

However, shortly after his 181-ball century, he took a slightly longer stride on a defence, got an inside edge onto his pad and was caught at silly point.

Sibsankar lofted Harpreet down the ground to reach three figures in 204 balls. He was mindful not to let it slip away like Denish and allowed Sarupam Purkayastha (66, 87b, 7x4, 3x6) to take charge in their 92-run sixth-wicket partnership that prolonged Punjab’s toil.

Umesh picked three of the last five wickets, for which Assam could add only 42 runs, to complete his five-wicket haul (five for 70) and ensure Punjab did not have to field the entire day.

Openers Vihaan Malhotra and Harnoor Pannu safely played out two overs before stumps, and three no balls from Dipjyoti Saikia made sure Punjab had something on the board.

The scores: Assam — 1st innings: Nibir Deka c Salil b Gurnoor 0, Rishav Das b Umesh 0, Rajveer Singh c Salil b Umesh 11, Denish Das c Sidhu b Emanjot 103, Sibsankar Roy (not out) 143, Sumit Ghadigoankar lbw b Harpreet 28, Sarupam Purkayastha c Salil b Gurnoor 66, Amlanjyoti Das b Umesh 0, Mukhtar Hussain c Harjas b Umesh 11, Dipjyoti Saikia b Emanjot 4, Mohit Thakur b Umesh 1; Extras (lb-2, nb-1, w-3): 6; Total (117 overs): 373.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-0, 3-23, 4-191, 5-239, 6-331, 7-332, 8-348, 9-367.

Punjab bowling: Gurnoor 23-3-85-2, Umesh 24-7-70-5, Harpreet 24-4-88-1, Ramandeep 2-0-8-0, Emanjot 27-7-68-2, Harjas 13-1-43-0, Uday 4-1-9-0.

Punjab — 1st innings: Vihaan Malhotra (batting) 0, Harnoor Pannu (batting) 0; Extras (nb-3): 3; Total (for no loss in two overs): 3.

Assam bowling: Mukhtar 1-1-0-0, Dipjyoti 1-0-3-0.