Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 10: Veteran Orissa cricketer Rashmi Ranjan Parida guided his club Saheed Sporting to a classy two-wicket win over Rameswar Sporting in the inaugural match of the NM Bhuyan Memorial cricket tournament at the BJB College Ground here Thursday.
Opting to bat first, Rameswar Sporting faced an initial batting debacle by losing four early wickets with the score board reading 34/4. But Sandeep Sethy (35) and Prashant Bhoi (45) resurrected the innings with an able 69 runs partnership for the fifth wicket. But after that the rests of the batsmen failed and they were skittled out for 165 in the stipulated 35 overs. Swayam Siddha (3/30) bowled well for Rameswar.
Saheed Sporting also got early blows and were struggling with 44 for four until man of the match Parida (44) and Rupak Jena (43) made a match-winning fifth wicket stand of 56 runs. After the end of the partnership, the winning side got a few jolt, but somehow they scrambled home in the last over.
BBSR-B in quarters
BBSR-B sealed a berth in the quarterfinals of the Kalahandi Cup cricket tournament by virtue of their first innings lead despite a draw against Keonjhar in the Group-B qualifier game at the Sunshine Ground in Cuttack, Thursday.
Resuming from the day-1 score of 295/2, BBSR-B declared their first innings on a mammoth 456/9. Debasis Samantaray (131) and Sandeep Patnaik (83) led the batting for BBSR-B, while Sudhansu Senapati (5/112) bagged a five-wicket-haul for Keonjhar.
In reply, Keonjhar managed to score 187 at the end of play in their second essay. Subhransu Senapati (110 n o) scored a splendid unbeaten century.
Brief scores
Keonjhar 43 and and 187 for five (Subhransu Senapati 110 n o); BBSR-B 456 for nine decl (Sandeep Pattnaik 83, Sudhansu Senapati 5/112). Match Drawn.