Bhubaneswar: Orissa were staring at defeat on completion of the third day of their Ranji Trophy Group C encounter against Mumbai at the KIIT Stadium here, Friday. At stumps, chasing a winning target of 413, the hosts were 93 for four in their second essay. Earlier Mumbai in their second innings after resuming at their overnight score of 58 for three declared their second innings declared at 268 for nine riding on a brilliant century by Siddesh Lad (117, 153b, 16×4, 1×6).
Mumbai had collapsed to 85 for six, but Lad resurrected the innings with three useful partnerships. First he put on 57 runs for the seventh wicket with Abhishek Nayar (14), then another 76 runs for the eighth wicket with Akash Parker (21) and finally a ninth-wicket partnership of 42 runs with Shardul Thakur (32 n o) to extend Mumbai’s lead past the 400-run mark. Lad finally was dismissed by Biplab Samantray (2/18), who accepted a return catch and with his dismissal, Mumbai skipper Aditya Tare declared the innings.
Orissa lost Sandip Patnaik early. However, Govind Poddar (48 batting, 66b, 8×4) and Natraj Behera put on a small rescue attack putting on 47 runs for the second wicket. However, just when it seemed they would see Orissa through to stumps without any further loss, Dhawal Kulkarni sent Natraj’s stumps cartwheeling. Medium pacer Parkar, then struck two late blows dismissing Subhranshu Senapati (13) and nightwatchman Deepak Behera (0) to again put the hosts under pressure.
Govind along with debutant Shantanu Mishra will have to do something miraculous if Orissa are to salvage a point from the game. That however, looks highly improbable.
Brief scores: Mumbai 289 and 268/9 decl (Siddhesh Lad 117; Suryakant Pradhan 3/106); Orissa 145 and 93/4 (Govind Poddar 48 batting; Akash Parkar 2/9). Match to continue.
post news network
