Ranji Trophy tie: Hosts eye 2nd win

Post News Network

Sambalpur, Jan 4: Buoyed by their recent seven-wicket away victory over Haryana, hosts Orissa would like to continue the winning momentum when they take on Vidarbha in their Group B Ranji Trophy tie beginning here Monday. The hosts now have seven points from three games, two more than the visitors who are currently on five points from the same number of games.

Orissa’s victory over Haryana was a very laudable effort as it came on a green top at Rohtak. They will again be banking on the pacers as the pitch at the Veer Surendra Sai Stadium here is full of grass and will help the fast men. Coach Debashis Mohanty also indicated that he will be letting loose Orissa’s pace battery on the visitors.

Orissa bowlers will have to be aware of the fact that Vidarbha boast of a couple of good batsmen. Former Tamil Nadu middle-order batsman Subramaniam Surendranath has joined Vidarbha this year as an ‘expat’ and in the last match against Rajasthan cracked an unbeaten 152. The hosts will also have to be careful about Shalabh Shrivastava who also a got a hundred against Rajasthan and ensured that Vidrabha get a first innings lead for the first time in the current season.

Bowling has never been a worry for Orissa, with all the three pacers – Basant Mohanty, Deepak Behera and Suryakant Pradhan –in good form and among wickets. It is the batting that has been a cause for concern with inconsistency affecting the top and middle-order. Quite a few batters like Natraj Behera, Govind Poddar, skipper Abhilash Mallick and Biplab Samantray have got starts but have failed to convert them into substantial scores. They will have to put their heads down and grind it out in the middle if the hosts want to chalk out their second win on the trot.

There is every possibility of the match not starting as per schedule because of soggy outfield. It will take time for the field to dry out completely keeping in mind the cloudy weather.