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Bhubaneswar, Dec 15: Orissa suffered their fourth successive defeat in the Vijay Hazare Trophy going down by 55 runs to Andhra at the Airforce Ground in Palam, Tuesday. Andhra after electing to bat scored 261 for the loss of four wickets and then restricted last year’s semifinalists to 206 all out in 48 overs. The loss ended Orissa’s chances of qualifying for the knockout stage.
AG Pradeep (102 n o, 123b, 6×4, 2×6) and N Sai Krishna (72, 57b, 5×4, 3×6) put on 138 runs for the fourth wicket to put Andhra in a position of command. The two hit the bowlers to all parts of the park after Orissa had struck early on in the session, reducing Andhra to 25 for two.
However, Pradeep stemmed the rot first with a partnership of 79 runs for the third wicket with DB Prashanth (46, 59b, 8×4) and then took the game away from Orissa during his stand with Sai Krishna.
Orissa were never in the hunt as they kept on losing at regular intervals. They were reduced to zero for two before Anurag Sarangi (52, 72b, 4×4) and skipper Natraj Behera (42, 49b, 6×4, 1×6) rescued the side with a stand of 71 runs. Then Natraj added another 56 runs for the fourth wicket with Biplab Samantray (44, 50b, 5×4). But after their dismissal, Orissa simply faded by the wayside to lose the game tamely. D Sivakumar (4/37) bowled well for Andhra.
Brief scores: Andhra 261 for 4 (AG Pradeep 102 n o, N Sai Krishna 72) beat Orissa 206 in 48 overs (Anurag Sarangi 52, D Sivakumar 4/37) by 55 runs.
Rajat ensures 3 points
Rajat Das (115, 316b, 11×4) played an innings mixed with caution and aggression to help hosts Orissa gain a vital first innings lead against Bengal in their three-day under-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy match which ended Tuesday at the Sunshine Ground in Cuttack.
Riding on Rajat’s century, Orissa who resumed at their overnight score of 235 for the loss of five wickets ended on 344 and with it managed a vital three points from the game by virtue of obtaining the first innings lead. Batting at No. 9 Rajesh Mohanty also scored a valuable 33 with the help of four boundaries which in the end proved very crucial for the hosts.
In the second innings Bengal were 44 for the loss of five wickets when stumps were called.
U-19 colts lose
Vidarbha defeated Orissa by an innings and 89 runs on the final day of the four-day under-19 Cooch Behar Trophy match which ended at the BOSE Ground in Cuttack, Tuesday.
The Orissa colts were always facing an uphill task after conceding a first innings lead of 246 runs. In their second innings, after resuming at their overnight score of 108 for three the hosts were bowled out for 194. Except for Subhransu Senapati (51, 123b, 3×4, 3×6) none of the others were able to tackle the Vidarbha bowlers. Partha Rekhade (6/59) and Parth Sagdeo (3/17) bowled well for the visitors.