Riyan Parag produced a career-best bowling performance, taking 5 for 25 as Assam bowled out Services for 108 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy 2025-26 clash on Saturday.
Earlier, Assam were bundled out for 103 – after twin hat-tricks from Arjun Sharma and Mohit Jangra – at the Tinsukia District Sports Association Ground.
For hosts Assam, Pradyun Saikia smashed 52 and Parag added a brisk 36 off 31 balls featuring two fours and three sixes.
Opening the bowling attack, Parag struck twice in his first over – Jayant Goyat edged behind to wicketkeeper Sumit Ghadigaonkar before Mohit Ahlawat was bowled off the final ball.
He removed opener Shivam Kumar and Arjun Sharma in the 11th over and bowled out Nakul Sharma soon after – taking three wickets in five balls spread across two overs – reducing Services to 41 for 6. His spell at the time read 5/14 in 6.1 overs.
Parag scalped five of the first six wickets to record only the second five-wicket haul of his first-class career, surpassing his previous best of 5 for 68 against Vidarbha in 2022. He bowled 10 overs in total.
The 23-year-old all-rounder, who plays for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, continued his fine bowling form, having taken 4 for 86 against Gujarat in a Ranji Trophy match in Ahmedabad last week.
With this haul, Parag now has 63 wickets in 36 first-class matches at an average of 34.61.
