Odisha surprises Tamil Nadu by picking 3 points

In reply to Tamil Nadu’s first innings score of 530/8, Odisha managed to score 533/9 at the end of the match. After this latest setback, Tamil Nadu has eight points from four matches and with two away matches to follow, its chances of finishing in the top two look remote. TN is currently at fourth on the table.

In reply to the mammoth first innings total, the host was very watchful from the beginning of its innings. Young Sandeep Pattnaik (66) and experienced Natraj Behera (91) added 128 for the opening wicket. Apart from Subhranshu Senapati, all batsmen in the middle and lower order of the team got starts. Biplab Samantaray, Shantanu Mishra, Alok Sahoo and Suryakanta Pradhan got good scores of 50, 71t, 36 and 43, respectively. Suryakanta’s cameo of 43 runs came only in 39 balls ensuring an increase in the run-rate. Making a comeback, wicket-keeper Rajesh Dhuper scored his maiden fifty in Ranji Trophy and took Odisha to a comfortable position before getting out for 97. Basant Mohanty and Dhiraj Singh showed patience in the lower order and remained unbeaten as Odisha crossed the 530-mark. For the visitor, off-spinner MS Washington Sundar picked four wickets for 95 runs while medium pacer V Yo Mahesh was impressive taking three for 60.

Speaking after the match, Odisha skipper Govinda Poddar said, “These three points are a morale booster for our team. Rajesh played really well and got good support from Alok Sahoo, Suryakanta Pradhan and Basant Mohanty in the lower order. The whole team contributed to get points against Tamil Nadu and I am satisfied with this good show. In the upcoming matches we will look forward to play good cricket and try to grab full points.”

SCOREBOARD:Tamil Nadu (First innings) 530 for 8 decl; Odisha (First innings) S Pattnaik c (sub) K Gandhi b Yo Mahesh 66, N Behera lbw b Rahul 91, G Poddar c Mukund b W Sundar 29, S Senapati b W Sundar 4, S Mishra c Indrajith b W Sundar 71, B Samantray st N Jagadeesan b Vijay Shankar 50, R Dhupar c Indrajith b W Sundar 97, AC Sahoo c N Jagadeesan b Yo Mahesh 36, S Pardhan lbw b Yo Mahesh 43, B Mohanty not out 18, D Singh not out 2. Extras: 26. Total (for nine wickets in 187.1 overs) 533 FoW: 1-128, 2-176, 3-180, 4-208, 5-310, 6-352, 7-414, 8-472, 9-525 Bowling: K Vignesh 37-7-98-0, Yo Mahesh 29-2-60-3, Vijay Shankar 23.3-5-78-1, R Shah 45-14-109-1, W Sundar 35.1-12-95-4, V Lakshman 12.3-2-51-0, B Aparajith 5-1-17-0