Orissa take first innings lead

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Rohtak, December 29: All the top order batsmen from Orissa got starts but failed to convert them into substantial scores against Haryana on the second day of their Group B Ranji Trophy tie at the Sardar Bansi Lal Stadium here Monday. At stumps Orissa were 232 for the loss of nine wickets – with a lead of 105 runs, which could have been much more had the batters shown a little more grit.

Resuming at their overnight score of 39 without loss, the visitors made slow progress against the Haryana attack on a green top. Strangely enough, the pacers failed to take advantage of the track and it was off-spinner Jayant Yadav (6/91) who restricted Orissa. The Orissa batters tried to play a bit too casually against the spinner after tackling the pacers and in the process lost their wickets. Pacer Mohit Sharma (3/38) supported Jayant quite well.

Natraj Behera (39), Girija Rout (39), Aravind Singh (30), Biplab Samantray (25) all got starts. But just when it looked like they were set to dominate the hosts’ bowling, they lost the plot. A cameo by Suryakant Pradhan (33, 21b, 4×4, 1×6) helped Orissa garner a lead of over 100 runs. Had the Orissa batters been a little more circumspect against the off-spinner, they could have been in a better position at stumps.

Orissa will now have to bowl out of their skins to see that Haryana does not impose a huge fourth innings target. This match certainly looks like heading for a result.

Brief scores: Haryana 127, Orissa 232 for nine (Girija Rout 39, Natraj Behera 39, Jayant Yadav 6/91). Match to continue.