Post News Network
Cuttack, Oct 17: Orissa scripted a facile eight-wicket victory over Assam in the Ranji Trophy Group A tie here Saturday at the Barabati Stadium. This was Orissa’s first outright win of the season and took their points tally to eight.
On a pitch on which batting became progressively easier as the game progressed, the home batsmen took the match by the scruff of its neck to emerge victorious against Assam, who prior to this game were heading Group A. And leading the charge was none other than Govind Poddar who batted with authority and elan. His unbeaten 77 off the same number of the deliveries with 13 boundaries had class written all over it.
Even though cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, had the victory target been a bit more, Govind probably would have got his third ton in successive matches. His scores this season have been phenomenal – 0, 77* not out (Assam), 100, 0 (Maharashtra) and 4, 148 not out (Vidarbha) – a total of 329 at an average of 82.25. Orissa should be really indebted to this Rourkela lad for the way he has batted.
Coming back into the game, Assam, who started at their overnight score of 137 for eight, failed to add a single run as Suryakant Pradhan (5/27) dismissed the remaining two batsmen within the space of three deliveries, leaving unbeaten all-rounder J Syed Mohammed (42*, 164b, 4×4) high and dry. This was Suryakant’s maiden five-wicket haul and helped Orissa’s cause to a great extent. He was the ideal foil for senior pacer Basant Mohanty, who had match figures of eight for 53.
At 31 for two, with both openers back in the pavilion, it was anybody’s game. But it was good ploy by the Orissa team management to send Rajesh Dhupar up the order with Natraj Behra, as he already had his eye in, after his job behind the stumps. Dhupar got only 21, but more than anything else took the shine out of the new ball.
Then Govind and Anurag Sarangi (29 n o, 101b, 3×4) put on an unbroken stand of 111 runs for the third wicket to dash whatever hopes Assam had. Govind was authoritative while playing shots all round the park, while Anurag, held one end up dourly. The win will definitely add a little colour to the upcoming festive season for Orissa cricketers.
Brief scores: Assam 92 and 137 (Suryakant Pradhan 5/27) lost to Orissa 88 and 142 for two (Govind Poddar 77 n o, Anurag Sarangi 29 n o) by eight wickets.
Other Group-A matches
(At Delhi): Haryana 195 and 265 (Virender Sehwag 51; Manan Sharma 6/105); Delhi 237 and 69/0 (Unmukt Chand 48 batting). Match to continue.
(At Bangalore): Karnataka 350 and 26/0; Vidarbha 310 (S Badrinath 192; Sreenath Aravind 4/46; J Suchith 4/51). Match to continue.
(At Kolkata): Rajasthan 198 (Vineet Saxena 66; Pragyan Ojha 4/49); Bengal 136/3 (Abhinayu Easwaran 53 batting, Manoj Tiwary 51 batting; Deepak Chahar 2/32). Match to continue.
Dheeraj replaces Jayant
Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) selectors announced a 16-member state squad for the upcoming Ranji tie against Delhi at the KIIT Stadium in Bhubaneswar, October 30- November 2. Dheeraj Singh was the only change in the squad. He has replaced Jayant Behera.
The squad: Natraj Behera, Girija Rout, Govind Poddar, Biplab Samantray, Anurag Sarangi, Pratik Das, Abhilash Mallick, P Roshan Kumar Rao, Basant Mohanty, Deepak Behera, Suryakanta Pradhan, Alok Sahoo, Dheeraj Kumar Singh, Amit Das, Alok Mangaraj, Rajesh Dhuper; Coach: Debashis Mohanty; Manager: Subhasis Bhuyan.
