Date:26/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/26/stories/2007112659221800.htm

Sport - Cricket

Orissa faces stiff target

Special Correspondent

CUTTACK: The Ranji Trophy Super League Group B match between Andhra and Orissa is interestingly poised.

Having been at the receiving end so far, Orissa, facing a stiff target of 295 on the final’s day play, has a chance to force an outright win provided its batsmen applied themselves to the task in the four-day match at the Barabati Stadium

At stumps, Orissa knocked off 32 runs without loss in the second innings, chasing a target of 326. The two openers, Siba Sundar Das and Bikash Swarup Pati, were unbeaten on 23 and eight runs respectively.

Earlier on Sunday morning, Andhra — resuming at 67 for two — played steadily for most part of the day to declare at 287 for nine. G. Shankara Rao, once again, shone with the bat scoring 91 to shore up Andhra’s second innings.

Inspired bowling

Overnight batsmen, A. Satya Kumar Varma and skipper Mannava Prasad, managed to play out seven overs against some inspired bowling by Debasis Mohanty and newcomer Pritamjit Das. Mohanty produced a terrific in-cutter to uproot Prasad’s stump for 22. Y. Gnaneswara Rao did not last long, guiding Pritamjit into the safe hands of S.S. Das at slips for two.

Varma and A.G. Pradeep joined forces to put on 51 runs for the fifth wicket before Varma played on a low delivery from captain Pravanjan Mullick for 38 after occupying the crease for nearly four hours and facing 137 balls.

After the lunch was taken at 141 for five, the left-right combination of G. Shankara Rao and Pradeep played with purpose to add a further 108 for the sixth wicket in 32.5 overs to increase the lead.

The session between lunch and tea was very fruitful for Andhra, which added 98 runs in 29 overs without any fuss. The duo went into tea at 239 for five which gave Andhra an overall lead of 278. After Andhra lost Mohammad Faiq (8) and D. Kalyankrishna (0), left-handed M. Suresh joined Rao.

Rao moved into the 90s but ran out of luck as Pritamjit produced a perfect yorker when the stocky left-hander shaped up for an off-drive. Rao (91) surpassed his previous best of 73 he scored in the first innings.

Orissa openers played out the 13 overs without any problem. S.S. Das played a fluent knock with four hits to the fence.

The scores:

Andhra — 1st innings: 179.

Orissa — 1st innings: 140.

Andhra — 2nd innings: H. Watekar b P. Das 19, L.N.P. Reddy c H. Das b P. Jayachandra 6, A.S.K. Varma b Mullick 38, M.S.K. Prasad b Mohanty 22, Y.G. Rao c S.S. Das b P. Das 2, A.G. Pradeep c N. Behera b Mohanty 60, G. Shankara Rao b P. Das 91, Md. Faiq (run out) 8, D. Kalyankrishna (run out) 0, M. Suresh (not out) 7. Extras (b-11, lb-15, nb-8): 34; Total (for nine wkts. declared in 93.3 overs): 287.

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-31, 3-82, 4-86, 5-137, 6-245, 7-267, 8-268, 9-297.

Orissa bowling: Mohanty 21-6-50-2, P. Das 20.3-5-53-3, Jayachandra 12-1-31-1, Mullick 8-1-25-1, Behera 17-4-49-0, Khatua 10-0-32-0, Biswal 2-0-7-0, S.S. Das 3-0-14-0.

Orissa — 2nd innings: B.S. Pati (batting) 8, S.S. Das (batting) 23. Extras (b-1): 1. Total (for no loss in 13 overs): 32.

Andhra bowling: Kalyankrishna 5-1-6-0, Vijay Kumar 2-1-9-0, G.S. Rao 2-0-9-0, Suresh 2-2-0-0, Y.G. Rao 1-0-6-0, Faiq 1-0-1-0.

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