Binny hits ton as Karnataka take big lead against Assam

Stuart Binny, who has lost his place in the Indian Test and ODI teams, struck his ninth first class hundred - a blistering 156 - as Karnataka grabbed a huge first innings lead over Assam on day three of their Group B Ranji Trophy match today.

Trailing Karnataka by 245 runs on the first innings, Assam lost opener Rishav Das for 16 and were 48 for one in the second essay, behind by 197 runs overall, at draw of stumps.

Assam have an arduous task to avoid an outright loss on the final day tomorrow at the Bandra-Kurla complex ground.
 

The star on the penultimate day of the game was all-rounder Binny who played a sparkling knock, laced with 3 sixes and 17 fours, to puncture Assam's slim hopes of coming back into the game.

Binny's century was the third in Karnataka's imposing first innings total of 570 and followed knocks of 128 by Robin Uthappa and 145 by captain Karun Nair who were not out last evening on 108 each in a team score of 223 for 2.

Both fell before lunch after having added 265 runs for the third wicket, Syed Mohammed accounting for Uthappa, who faced 267 balls and struck 3 sixes and 12 fours, to end the big stand.

Krishna Das dismissed Nair on the 252nd ball that the batsman faced and his innings contained 17 hits to the fence.

Binny, who had missed a century against Jharkhand by three runs earlier in the season, then took centre-stage post lunch and strung another big partnership of 131 for the sixth wicket with wicket keeper C M Gautam who made 73 off 92 balls with ten fours.

Later, Binny - who was last out - and Shreyas Gopal, who made 35, added 95 runs for the seventh wicket.

For Assam, medium pacer Arup Das took 4 for 86, including the wicket of Binny, while his new ball partner Krishna Das claimed 2 for 95.

Coming to bat for the second time, Assam lost opener Rishav who was castled by leggie Shreyas.

Brief scores: Assam 325 and 48 for 1. Karnataka 570 (R Uthappa 128, K Nair 145, S Binny 156, C M Gautam 73; A Das 4 for 86).