Karnataka Spin Duo Share All Ten Wickets to Floor Assam

Karnataka spinners Ritesh Bhatkal and Shikhar Shetty shared all ten wickets between them as Assam were bowled out for just 135 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy match in Guwahati.

Off-spinner Bhatkal took 5 for 35, while left-arm spinner Shetty took 5 for 53, as Assam collapsed after a poor start and lost seven wickets for 42 runs.

Sibsankar Roy top-scored for the hosts with 37.

Karnataka then replied strongly, with Rohan Patil hitting 89 off 87 balls in a 129-run opening stand with Mayank Agarwal, who finished unbeaten on 57.

Karnataka reached 180 for 2 at stumps, a first-innings lead of 45 runs with eight wickets still in hand.

The five wickets were Bhatkal's first in first-class cricket in his fourth Ranji Trophy match, while Shetty's five wickets were his fourth in the format and his third this season, as Karnataka took firm control of the fourth-round match.