BHUBANESWAR 20-Oct-2011 160
Last year`s runners-up Orissa crushed Tripura by 56 runs to start their campaign on a positive note in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (East Zone) T-20 Cricket Tournament at Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur today. Skipper Biplab Samantaray and left-arm spinner Jayant Behera played instrumental roles in the emphatic victory, hitting an unbeaten 73 and bagging three wickets respectively.
Leading from the front Samantaray struck six fours and two sixes in his 53-ball knock as Orissa compiled a healthy total of 175 for three after electing to bat first. Opener Natraj Behera and stumper Haladhar Das provided ideal support to the captain, contributing 38 (32 balls, 4x6) and 37 (24 balls, 4x1, 6x3). After the early dismissal of opener Sumitosh Praharaj, Orissa rode on two fifty-plus partnerships to set a daunting target for the opposition.
Orissa bowlers then put up disciplined performance to restrict Tripura to 119 for nine in the stipulated overs. That Orissa conceded only four extras, including one wide, spoke volumes about the line and length of the bowlers. Debutant Jayant Behera was most successful among them, conceding 20 runs for his three wickets. He also excelled in fielding by running out Tripura`s top scorer Rajesh Banik, who hit a 46-ball 47. The thumping win fetched Aussie coach Michael Bevan`s Orissa boys four points, while Tripura drew blank.
SCOREBOARD
ORISSA: Sumitosh Praharaj c Samant b Dutta 1, Natraj Behera c Dutta b Patel 38, Biplab Samantaray (not out)73, Haladhar Das lbw Saha 37, Deepak Behera (not out) 17; Extras (b-1, w-5, nb-3) 9
Total (3 wkts, 20 overs) 175
Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-61, 3-117
Bowling: Rana Dutta 4-0-33-1, Timir Chanda 4-0-45-0, Gopesh Bhowmik 3-0-28-0, Tushar Saha 3-0-15-1, Udit Patel 3-0-31-1, Rajib Saha 3-0-22-0.
TRIPURA: Rajib Saha (run out) 6, Subhrajit Roy b Panda 8, Rajesh Banik (run out) 47, Vinayak Samant c Samantaray b J Behera 23, Sukanta Reang c S Jena b J Behera 3, Rajib Dutta c L Samal b J Behera 0, Udit Patel b D Behera 4, Tushar Saha (run out) 5, Timir Chanda (not out) 10, Rana Dutta c N Behera b Samantaray 9; Extras (b-1, lb-2, w-1) 4.
Total (9 wkts, 20 overs) 119
Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-17, 3-67, 4-76, 5-77, 6-89, 7-94, 8-106, 9-119
Bowling: Alok Sahoo 2-0-8-0, Santosh Jena 3-0-14-0, Bibhudutta Panda 3-0-11-1, Jayant Behera 4-0-20-3, Biplab Samantaray 2-0-14-1, Lagnajit Samal 4-0-32-0, Deepak Behera 2-0-17-1.
