Shillong, Feb 12: Centuries by guest-professionals Ravi Teja (130) and Punit Bisht (163 not out) saw Meghalaya score a commanding 387 for the loss of four wickets on the first day of their Ranji Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh in Dibrugarh today.
Meghalaya won the toss and chose to bat first. All the batsmen got starts, with Wallam Lyngdoh Kynshi making 10, Pringsang Sangma 18 and Tengchan Sangma 37.
Teja and Bisht then took over, with the former hitting 10 fours and a six in his 199-ball innings before he was dismissed soon after the final drinks break of the day.
He and Bisht put on 234 runs for the fourth wicket, which took Meghalaya to a strong position. Bisht was the more aggressive of the two batsmen, with the No. 5 hitting his 163 runs off just 172 deliveries, with 19 fours and one six for his highest first-class score this season. He started quickly enough, reaching his half-century in 59 balls before accelerating to make his next 50 runs in 42 balls and his next 50 in 43 and it was largely down to him that Meghalaya ended up scoring over four runs an over.
Bisht will now look to close down on his double century tomorrow morning and he will be partnered with Sanjay Yadav, who had madeĀ 19 not out by stumps.
(Meghalaya Cricket Association file photos. Ravi Teja (left) and Punit Bisht (right)