Vadodara: Has the lack of a proper bowling coach affected Orissa’s Ranji Trophy campaign this time around . Orissa’s pace bowlers who were dangerous in all conditions if one looks back at their performances in the last couple of seasons, suddenly seem to have lost that cutting edge. That was amply exemplified during the second day of their Ranji Trophy Group C encounter against Baroda here Saturday.
Basant Mohanty (5/85) and Suryakant Pradhan (2/95) had the hosts on the mat at the Reliance Stadium here within an hour after the start of the game. Starting the day at 281 for three Baroda slipped to 316 for seven. It then appeared that Orissa will restrict Baroda to less than 350. But an eighth wicket stand of 155 runs between Vishnu Solanki (109, 223b, 14×4) and Ninad Rathva (115, 102b, 18×4, 1×6) helped Baroda stop the rot. They ended at 503 and Orissa in reply were 64 for two at stumps.
Baroda thus became the third team this season to post a 500-plus total against Orissa. It portrays a distinct lack of sting among the Oriya bowlers, who have allowed teams to wrest back the advantage even after being on the mat.
Without taking anything away from the abilities of Shiv Sundar Das who is the coach of the side, one will be forced to say that he will always think as a batsman and not as a bowler. While most first class teams have at least a bowling consultant if not a coach, Orissa do not have one. And the results are there for everyone to see as team after team have piled on the agony for the Orissa bowlers.
Saturday was also not an exception. With Baroda on the mat, Rathva counter-attacked. And Basant and Suryakant, who had suddenly looked so menacing, appeared pedestrian. Those that followed Basant and Suryakant, also did not have the prowess to stem the rot as the two batters took the game away completely from the reach of the visitors.
While Rathva attacked, Solanki, who was unbeaten overnight on 46, rotated the strike beautifully. Rathve was particularly severe on Alok Sahoo (1/108) hitting the bowler for five boundaries in the space of two overs. Alok finally clean bowled Rathve to end the Baroda innings, but by then the batsman had taken the hosts past the 500-run mark.
Orissa batsmen again have a mountain to climb Sunday. They have already lost the out of form Sandeep Patnaik (13, 37b, 2×4) and skipper Govind Poddar (19, 49b, 2×4) cheaply. Orissa will now have to depend on a good partnership from Natraj Behera (24 batting, 87b, 3×4) and Subhranshu Senapati (seven batting, 19b, 1×4) who were together at stumps. Their first target should be to get to 354 as that will enable them to avoid the follow on. But it won’t be easy.
Lukman Meriwala(1/18) and Solanki (1/6) were the successful bowlers for Baroda on the day.
Brief scores: Baroda 503 (Vishnu Solanki 109, Ninad Rathva 115; Basant Mohanty 5/85, Suryakant Pradhan 2/95; Orissa 64/2 (Natraj Behera 24 batting; Lukman Meriwala 1/18). Match to continue.
Other Group C matches
(At Indore): Madhya Pradesh 264 (Ankit Sharma 77; Krishnamoorthy Vignesh 4/32, M Mohammed 3/67); Tamil Nadu 191/6 (N Jagadeesan 94; Ishwar Pandey 3/36).
(At Ongole): Mumbai 332 (Dhawal Kulkarni 50 n o; Bandaru Ayyappa 4/110, KV Sasikanth 3/61); Andhra Pradesh 74/2 (Hanuma Vihari 29 batting; Abhishek Nayar 1/19).
All matches to continue Sunday.