Indore: Rajesh Dhuper (88, 260b, 10×4) missed a century for the third time this season as Orissa batsmen put up a better show on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Group C encounter against Madhya Pradesh at the Holkar Stadium here Monday. Facing a first innings deficit of 241 runs, Orissa in their second essay, were 237 for four, still four runs in arrears. Subhransu Senapati (78 batting, 169b, 11×4) and Shantanu Mishra (10 batting) will take up the battle for Orissa when the game resumes Tuesday.
The Orissa batters showed better grit on the day. Had Ranjit Singh (30) and skipper Govind Poddar (20) converted the starts they got, Orissa could have been better placed. For once in the season, Biplab Samantray (one) failed to come good with the bat.
Dhuper and Subhransu put on 120 runs for the third wicket in 46.1 overs to frustrate the MP bowlers. However, Dhuper should realise that there is a marked difference between ‘99’ and ‘100’. People (read selectors) sit up and take notice, the moment a player starts getting to that three-figure mark on a consistent basis. Dhuper could have achieved that thrice this season. He may go on to rue this fact in the seasons to come.
The third wicket stand was finally broken when Dhuper holed out to Devendra Bundela off Puneet Datey. MP used seven bowlers, out of whom Mihir Hirwani (2/58) impressed.
Brief scores: Orissa 147 & 237/4 (Rajesh Dhuper 88, Subhranshu Senapati 78 batting; Mihir Hirwani 2/58); Madhya Pradesh 388. Match to continue.
Other Group C results:
At Mumbai: Tripura 195 & 288 (Yashpal Singh 82, Smit Patel 68; Dhawal Kulkarni 4/69, Karsh Kothari 4/72); lost to Mumbai 421/8d & 64/0 (Prithwi Shaw 50 n o) by 10 wickets.
At Vadodara: Baroda 309 & 197 (Swapnil Singh 49, Atit Sheth 40; M Mohammed 3/22); Tamil Nadu 274 (B Indrajith 58, B Aparajith 59; Lukman Meriwala 3/37) & 2/0. Match to continue Tuesday.
Agencies
