Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, July 23: Alok Chandra Sahoo (6/45) started from where he left on the first day to bundle out Assam for a paltry 133 runs on the rain marred second day of the All India K Thimmappiah Memorial cricket tournament at Bangalore, Thursday.
Assam started cautiously at their overnight score of 89 for six, but could not cope up with the fiery bowling of Alok. The medium pacer was well supported by Suryakant Pradhan (2/45) with only Sarupam Purakayastha (29) offereing some resistance with the bat.
In reply, Orissa lost opener Girija Rout with 27 runs on board at stumps of day two. Rajesh Dhuper (11) and Govind Poddar (0 n o) were at the crease when rain interfered forcing early closure of play.
Brief Scores
Assam 133 (Alok Chandra Sahoo 6/45); Orissa 27 for one. Match to continue.
Ground development
The BCCI has already announced the domestic fixtures and in a bid to organise the matches successfully, Orissa Cricket Association (OCA) has taken some initiatives to improve the conditions of the grounds in the state.
Barabati Stadium in the city, DRIEMS Ground in Tangi, VSS Stadium in Sambalpur and KIIT Ground in Bhubaneswar will be the hosting venues for OCA. Apart from these, OCA has also targeted some other grounds in Cuttack as venues for junior cricket tournaments. Among them are the SCB, Nimpur, Ravenshaw, Sunshine and Bidanasi grounds.
In the 2015-16 season, Orissa will host a large number of matches of the junior segment.
Keeping all those junior level matches in mind, OCA has already started the process of preparing the grounds in Cuttack.
“OCA will contribute a substantial portion of its profit in the infrastructural development of the grounds in the city. We aim to prepare turf wickets in every districts of the state,” stated OCA secretary Asirbad Behera.