post news network
Cuttack, March 25: When cricketers like Basant Mohanty, Paresh Patel and Natraj Behera were ruled out of the team there were doubts about the performance of the Orissa team in the East Zone T20 tournament. However, the determined Orissa youngsters proved their mettle beating Tripura by 34 runs in their opening match of Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 tournament here at the Barabati Stadium, Wednesday.
It was a match dominated by the hosts from ball one. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Orissa lost their opener Bikash Pati who failed to score. But vice-captain Govind Podder (31, 27b, 5×4) and young Pratik Das steadied the ship by adding 38 runs for the second wicket.
A fiery spell by Tripura’s Sanjoy Majumder (3/10) resulted in a middle-order collapse during which the hosts lost Biplab Samantray, Anurag Sarangi and Govind Podder in quick succession.
However, Aravind Singh (49, 32b, 2×4, 3×6) brought back Orissa on an even keel by belting the opposition bowlers. A flurry of hitting by wicket-keeper P Roshan Rao (24, 14b, 4×4) took Orissa to 151 for eight at the completion of 20 overs .
In reply, Tripura could score only 117 for the loss of eight wickets. Jayanta Behera (3/19), Deepak Behera (2/18) and Alok Mangaraj (2/18) bowled with a lot of zest and accuracy to restrict the opposition. Much was expected of Tripura’s ‘professional’ Yogesh Takawale but Govind took a brilliant catch off Alok to send him back.
Rakesh Solanki’s solid knock (68, 58b, 8×4, 1×6) went in vain as he couldn’t get the support from the other end.
Brief Scores: Orissa 151 for 8 (Aravind Singh 49, Sanjay Majumder 3/10) beat Tripura 117 for 8 (Rakesh Solanki 68, Jayanta Behera 3/19) by 34 runs.
