Services take two hat-tricks in one innings against Assam; Riyan Parag responds with fifer in Ranji Trophy 2025-26

The first day of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26 Elite Group C clash between Services and Assam belonged to the bowlers as a whopping 25 wickets fell on Saturday, October 25, at the Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground in Assam. At stumps on day one of the contest, the hosts put together a lead of 51 runs but they lost five wickets in the process, including their star player Riyan Parag, which isn’t an ideal situation heading into tomorrow.

Earlier, after winning the toss, Assam captain Denish Das decided to bat first and lost two early wickets before Riyan Parag scored a quick-fire 36 off 31 with two fours and three sixes. His dismissal led to the first hat-trick in Assam’s first innings as left-arm spinner Arjun Sharma dismissed Sumit Ghadigaonkar

and Sibsankar Roy on the first ball of their respective batting efforts in the 12th over itself, reducing the hosts to 45/5.

Just a few minutes later, left-arm pacer Mohit Jhangra picked up the second hat-trick in the innings across two overs, firstly dismissing opener Pradyun Saikia for 52 off 42 with three fours and six sixes before getting the better of Mukhtar Hussain and Bhargab Lahkar. In the next over, Assam’s first innings came to an end for just 103 runs in 17.2 overs after Arjun Sharma registered a five-wicket haul to his name.

Riyan Parag picked up his second fifer in first-class cricket

In response, Services were bowled out for just 108 runs in 29.2 overs despite a fifty from middle order batter Irfan Khan, scoring 51 off 81 with four fours and one six. Riyan Parag was the star of the show for Assam with the ball, taking his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket while his fellow opening bowling partner Rahul Singh got a four-wicket haul of his own.

During their second innings, Assam found themselves at 6-3 at one stage before managing to recover somewhat to reach 56/5 in 21 overs at the close of play on day one.