Bhubaneswar: In-form Subhranshu Senapati (72 n o, 101b, 2×4, 2×6) and Shantanu Mishra (78, 147b, 9×4) scored wonderful half centuries to guide Odisha to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Jammu & Kashmir in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C encounter in Jammu, Tuesday.
Chasing a target of 196 runs, Odisha openers Shantanu and Anurag Sarangi (20) started well adding 47 runs but the latter couldn’t convert his start. However, Shantanu, who has been sent to open the innings for past couple of matches with no regular openers in the side, stayed calm and, along with Subhranshu, took the score past 150.
The duo put on 112 runs for the second wicket before Shantanu got out. Subhranshu held on to his nerves and new batsman Govind Poddar (20 n o, 9b, 2×4, 1×6) played a cameo to take Odisha home with much ease.
Earlier, resuming the final day’s play at overnight 272/7, J&K stretch their total to 391 before being bowled out. The overnight pair of skipper Parvez Rasool (158, 217b, 18×4, 2×6) and Aamir Aziz (56, 129b, 5×4, 1×6) took their score past 350 as the duo put on 110 runs for the eighth wicket.
After Rasool’s dismissal, Aziz had an able ally in Mohammed Mudhasir (31, 31b, 4×6), whose power-hitting enabled the hosts to give Odisha a target, close to 200, to chase with less than two sessions to go. Basant Mohanty (4/59) was the star with the ball for Odisha.
With this win, Odisha moved up to fifth spot with 19 points, including six from this match having three wins, an identical number of defeats and a draw, in the 10-team Elite Group C table, led by Rajasthan with 37 points.
Meanwhile Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) announced an unchanged 15-over state team Tuesday for the match against Services at Palam, December 30-January 2.
Brief scores: Jammu & Kashmir 127 & 391 (Parvez Rasool 158, Aamir Aziz 56; Basant Mohanty 4/59) lost to Odisha 323 and 197/2 (Shantanu Mishra 78, Subhranshu Senapati 72 n o) by eight wickets.
