Guwahati: Assam kept their knockout hopes alive as they took three vital points by virtue of their first-innings lead against Andhra in their Ranji Trophy Group C match, which ended in a draw here today.
Both teams now have 20 points from their respective seven league encounters but Assam are better-placed on the second position in the group follwing their two outright wins as compared to Andhra`s one.
Andhra`s first innings had folded at 249 to which Assam replied with 394 for five declared, thus taking a healthy lead of 145 runs.
Resuming at their overnight total of 10 for no loss, Andhra made 227 for seven in their second essay before both captains mutually decided to end the match with Vamsi Krishna and Shaik Basha unbeaten on 21 and 5 respectively.
Opener Prasanth Kumar struck a patient 247-ball 83 laced with 10 fours while middle-order batsman Rajesh Pawar came up with a useful 121-ball 49.
Off-spinner Arlen Konwar shone with a four-wicket haul while left-arm spinner Jamaluddin Syed Mohammad and pacer Dhiraj Goswami picked up two and one wicket respectively.
Brief Scores: Andhra 249 & 229 for seven in 93 overs (Prasanth Kumar 83, Rajesh Pawar 49; Arlen Konwar 4/46).
Assam: 394 for five declared in 147 overs (Tarjinder Singh 103, Sibsankar Roy 77; DP Vijayakumar 2/74).
Points: Assam - 3, Andhra - 0.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 25, 2012, 19:41