Bhubaneswar: Himanshu Rana (113 batting, 162b, 17×4) scored an unbeaten century on the second day as Haryana were in firm control of their first Group C match of the Ranji Trophy against Odisha at the KIIT Stadium here. At stumps, the visitors were 239 for three with Pramod Chandila (34 batting, 38b, 6×4) giving company to the centurion, Friday.
After restricting the hosts to 324, Haryana were hoping for a good start from their openers Nitin Saini (5) and Shubham Rohilla (9). However, Odisha youngsters Rajesh Mohanty (2/36) and Debabrata Pradhan (1/49) made sure that Haryana get some early blows. As a result, the visitors were reduced to 18 for two inside first 10 overs of their innings.
In spite of getting early momentum, Odisha failed to carry on the positive and incoming batsmen Chaitanya Bishnoi (75, 143b, 9×4) and Rana made amends of their openers’ mistakes. The Bishnoi-Rana pair put on a 178-run partnership for the third wicket.
Odisha used as many as six bowlers in search of the third Haryana wicket, but at last it was Rajesh again who broke the stand dismissing Bishnoi.
However, it was the last laugh on the day for the hosts, who were quite tired and conceded some easy and quick runs at the end of the day’s play. Rana, after losing his partner Bishnoi, forged an unbeaten partnership of 43 runs with Chandila to ensure Haryana come close to Odisha total. The visitors were 85 runs behind Odisha’s first innings total with seven wickets in hand.
Earlier, resuming play at 230/6, Odisha’s overnight batsmen Shantanu Mishra (71, 174b, 9×4) and Debabrata (36, 48b, 5×4) carried on from where they left adding 48 runs to the team’s total before the latter was cleaned up by Tinu Kundu (4/44). Next batsman Suryakant Pradhan (1) too departed in the next over as the hosts were reduced to 279/8.
Shantanu however held his nerves and put on a valuable 42-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Rajesh (16) to take his team’s total past 320-run mark. Shantanu was the last man to be dismissed while searching for some quick runs.
Brief scores
Odisha 324 (Shantanu Mishra 71, Debabrata Pradhan 36; Tinu Kundu 4/44); Haryana 239/3 (Himanshu Rana 113 batting, Chaitanya Bishnoi 75; Rajesh Mohanty 2/36). Match to continue.
