Tangi, Dec 16: Orissa skipper Abhilash Mallick (90 n o, 82b, 16×4, 2×6) Tuesday surprised the Gujarat bowlers with a brilliant counter-attacking innings that rescued the hosts from a disaster after they were reduced to 18 for five in their second innings of the Ranji Trophy at the DRIEMS ground here.
Orissa started their second innings on a disastrous note as four of their top five batsmen were back in the pavilion for ducks.
Continuing his fine show from the first innings, Gujarat pacer Rush Kalaria (four for 20) ripped through Orissa top-order. He claimed the wickets of Tukuna Sahoo (0), Niranjan Behera (0), Natraj Behera (8) and Biplab Samantray (0) while Kushang Patel bowled Anurag Sarangi (0).
However, Abhilash, who came at No. 7, started attacking the visitors from the word go and forged a 125-run partnership with Govind Poddar (36 n o, 114 b, 5×4) to take the score to 143 for five at stumps. The home team still trails by four runs overall.
While Abhilash’s shots reached all parts of the ground, Govind ably rotated the strike to support the skipper.
Kalaria has so far taken 10 wickets from this match, having grabbed six Orissa wickets in the home team’s first innings.
Earlier in the day, Bhargav Merai(134, 328b, 17×4) completed his century after resuming the day at the individual score of 87 to play a major part in Gujarat scoring 372 all out in their first innings. Orissa had scored 225 all out in their first innings.
Merai added another 47 runs to be the ninth and last man out for Gujarat. Venugopal Rao did not turn up for batting. Merai hit 17 fours in his 328-ball innings which lasted eight hours.
Suryakant Pradhan and Deepak Behera grabbed three Gujarat wickets each while Biplab Samantray and Basant Mohanty took two and one wicket respectively.
Brief Scores: Orissa: 225 and 143 for 5 in 40 overs (Abhilash Mallick 90 not out; Rush Kalaria 4/20); Gujarat 1st Innings: 372 all out in 123.3 overs (Bhargav Merai 134, Akshar Patel 50; Suryakant Pradhan 3/59, Deepak Behera 3/80).
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