Ranji tie: Abhilash salvages one point

Post News Network

Sambalpur, Jan 8: A gritty knock by skipper Abhilash Mallick (32 n o, 54b, 6×4) helped Orissa salvage a point from their drawn Group B Ranji Trophy encounter against Vidarbha here Thursday at the Veer Surendra Sai Stadium. Set a victory target of 269, Orissa were tottering at 97 for six before Abhilash saved the day for the hosts. They finished on 117 without any further loss.

Once more it was a sorry tale of the top order as Girija Rout (0), Natraj Behera (18), Govind Poddar (four), Arvind Singh (15), Biplab Samantray (18) and Haladhar Das (15) failed to put up a good show. For Vidarbha, pace bowlers Shrikant Wagh (3/49) and Faiz Fazal (2/24) bowled well.

The day began on a dramatic note as Orissa declared at their overnight score of 137 for nine with Suryakant Pradhan not coming out because of an injured finger. Vidarbha in their second innings posted 165 for the loss of two wickets before declaring their innings.

Ganesh Satish (54 n o, 90b, 8×4) was once again the star performer for the visitors. He put on an unbeaten 58-run partnership for the third wicket with S Badrinath (23 n o, 34b, 1×4). Deepak Behera and Biplab Samantray claimed a wicket apiece.

Brief scores: Vidarbha 240 and 165 for 2 (Ganesh Satish 54 n o); Orissa 137 for 9 decl and 117 for 6 (Abhilash Mallick 32 n o, Shrikant Wagh 3/49). Match drawn. Points: Vidarbha 3; Orissa 1.