Kalahandi Cup: BIkash, Biplab blast Bargarh

Post News Network

Cuttack, Feb 25: Orissa Ranji team discard Bikash Pati (168 n o) hit a century, while Biplab Samantray (58 n o) played second fiddle to him as Cuttack-A took a handsome 134 runs first innings lead against a hapless Bargarh on the first day of their two-day Kalahandi Cup Inter-District super league match at the Barabati Stadium here Wednesday. At stumps Cuttack-A were 250 for one and in total command.

Earlier Dhiraj Singh (4/25) and Soumendra Das (3/28) justified their skipper’s decision to field first and created a magical web around the Bargarh batters to dismiss them for 116. Prabin Loha (48) was the only batsman to offer some resistance with the bat.

Brief scores

(Barabati Stadium): Bargarh 116 (Prabin Loha 48; Dhiraj Singh 4/25, Soumendra Das 3/28); Cuttack-A 250/1 (Bikash Pati 168 n o, Biplab Samantray 58 n o) Match to continue.

(Nimpur Ground): BBSR-A 283 (Santosh Debkant 103, Sumitosh Praharaj 84; Kailash Das 4/75); Balasore 58/6 (Asish Pradhan 3/12) Match to continue.

(Ravenshaw Ground-I): Ganjam 109 (Santosh Sethy 4/10, Debapriya Patnaik 3/36); Cuttack-B 136/3 (Rajesh Dhupper 60) Match to continue.

 ECoR play truant

East Coast Railway (ECoR) opted out of the Inter-District Kalahandi Cup cricket tournament from the super league stage. According to officials the ECoR management gave priority to the All India Inter-Railways cricket tournament over Kalahandi Cup as both competitions are overlapping.

ECoR were placed in Group-A. The team had won all their three matches in the league stage to enter the super league stage. “Our players will travel to Bangalore to participate in the departmental tournament as it is a must for them. So we have no option but to opt out,” stated coach Suresh Kumar.