Orissa suffer humiliating defeat

Post News Network

Bolangir, Jan 23: The sordid Orissa saga continued in the Ranji Trophy as the hosts suffered their second successive defeat here Friday at the Gandhi Stadium. Rajasthan defeated Orissa by 10 wickets on the third day of the match after enforcing the follow on. This is the second defeat that Orissa have suffered within three days, the first being to Delhi a few days back when they had lost 19 wickets in three sessions.

Resuming at their overnight score of 144 for nine, Orissa could not add a single run and lost their last wicket early on. Rajasthan who had scored 305 in their first essay were quick to enforce the follow on and the second innings proved no better for the hosts as they folded for one run short of 200. Needing 39 runs to win the match, Rajasthan scored 42 without loss to romp home victors. Robin Bist (20 n o, 23b, 4×4) and Pranay Sharma (21 n o, 17b, 4×4) were at the crease when victory was achieved.

Earlier following on, Orissa were reduced to 44 for four as Subhrajit Sahoo (1), Natraj Behera (16), Govind Poddar (17) and Biplab Samantray (0) all fell in quick succession. They managed to get a semblance of respectability to the score due to the efforts Anurag Sarangi (56, 92b, 7×4, 1×6) and debutant Pratik Das (45, 69b, 7×4). The two put on 82 runs for the fifth wicket and were instrumental in making Rajasthan bat again. They also demonstrated that with patience, the Rajasthan pace attack could be handled.

In the first innings it was Pankaj Singh and Deepak Chahar who had destroyed Orissa sharing eight wickets between them. In the second essay it was left-arm seamer Tanveer-ul-Huq (4/29) who did the damage. He was ably assisted by Pankaj (3/50, match figures 7/97) and the two never allowed any lee way for the Orissa batsmen.

Brief scores: Rajasthan 305 and 42 without loss; Orissa 144 and 199 (Anurag Sarangi 56, Pratik Das 45, Tanveer-ul-Huq 4/29, Pankaj Singh 3/50). Rajasthan won the match by 10 wickets.