Bhubaneswar: Skipper Govind Poddar (56, 81b, 5×4), experienced Biplab Samantaray (63, 81b, 3×4, 1×6) and young Subhransu Senapati (59 n o, 50b, 3×4, 3×6) scored wonderful half centuries before their bowlers helped Odisha hand a star-studded Delhi stunning nine-run defeat in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match at Palam, Wednesday.
Govind, Biplab and Subhransu, along with a crucial knock by opener Rajest Dhuper (46, 63b, 5×4, 1×6) up the order, took Odisha to 249 for four in 48-overs-a-side Group B contest, after the visitors opted to bat first. In reply, Gautam Gambhir-led Delhi were bowled out for 240.
After losing the other opener Anurag Sarangi early in the innings, Rajesh and Govind added 79 runs for the second wicket before the skipper forged 49 runs for the next wicket with Biplab.
However it was the Biplab-Subhranshu partnership of 100 runs for the fourth wicket, which enabled Odisha post a competitive total. Nitish Rana (1/32) was the most economical and successful bowler for Delhi.
Chasing a modest total, Delhi kept on losing wickets at regular intervals, to be reduced to 174/9 in the 40th over against some steady Odisha bowling. Among the wickets, only Gambhir (44, 56b, 6×4) and Rishabh Pant (39, 33b, 3×4, 3×6) offered some resistance.
However, Suboth Bhati (42 n o, 36b, 2×4, 3×6) and Navdeep Saini (25, 28b, 2×4, 1×6) took Delhi on the brink of an improbably victory with a 66-run stand for the last wicket but they couldn’t finish. Papu Roy (2/37) and Deepak Behera (2/25) were the pick of the bowlers for Odisha, taking a couple of wickets each.
Brief scores: Odisha 249/4 in 48 overs (Biplab Samantaray 63, Subhranshu Senapati 59 n o, Govind Poddar 56) bt Delhi 240 (Gautam Gambhir 44, Suboth Bhati 42 n o; Deepak Behera 2/25) by nine runs.
