SAMBALPUR 20-Nov-2011 309
Struggling Odisha opened their account in the ongoing Ranji Trophy Championship by collecting one point from the Elite Group-A match, which ended in a draw against Uttar Pradesh here at Veer Surendra Sai Stadium today. However, Odisha slipped to the bottom of the group table and faced the threat the getting relegated to the Plate Group. On the other hand, UP benefited more from the match against Odisha, securing three points by virtue of taking 108-run lead in the first innings.
In the high-scoring match, host Odisha compiled a big total of 482 after electing to bat first on a favourable wicket. In reply, UP batted more than two days to make 590 for 4 at stumps on the fourth and final day. Four batsmen and one bowler played instrumental role in giving UP the greater benefit.
Parvinder Singh scored an unbeaten double century (202, 331b, 21x4, 2x6), Arish Alam (118 n.o, 222b, 14x4, 1x6) and Tanmay Srivastava (115, 258b, 14x4) notched up a century each, Mohammad Kaif missed his ton by 12 runs and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla bagged five wickets for 105 runs.
Odisha secured the one point thanks to a career best knock of 171 (279b, 24x4, 3x6) by Biplab Samantaray and his 212-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Abhilash Mallick, who missed his maiden first class century by one run (253b, 17x4).
Four other Odisha batsmen also found themselves among runs with skipper Natraj Behera (53 off 89b, 12x4) and fit-again Niranjan Behera (54 off 163b, 6x4) notching up a half-century each, all-rounder Deepak Behera hit an unbeaten 37 and new opener Sumitosh Praharaj made a modest 26.
However, Odisha’s impressive batting performance failed to deliver the desired results because they lost their last seven wickets for 82 runs. Adding to the home team’s misfortune, bowlers proved themselves ineffective and ordinary.
Earlier, Odisha effected three changes in their side that lost to Punjab by eight wickets in the previous match at Mohali. Praharaj replaced opener Bikash Swarup Pati, Niranjan came in for all-rounder Paresh Patel and experienced left-arm spinner Dhiraj Singh took the place of Jayant Behera.
