Minnows Odisha hit back in the final session to pick three Delhi wickets after the home team bowlers dismissed them for a paltry 143 in the second round Ranji Trophy encounter at Feroz Shah Kotla on Friday. Having gained the upperhand, Delhi’s top-order couldn’t perform as per expectations as they were reduced to 62 for three in 31 overs when stumps were drawn.
Odisha seamer Basant Mohanty grabbed 2 for 21 as he dismissed openers Shikhar Dhawan and Unmukt Chand for 22 and 3, respectively. Seamer Deepak Behra ended debutant Mohit Sharma’s 70-minute ordeal as he scratched around for 16. Even coach Vijay Dahiya admitted that Mohit’s failure to rotate the strike increased pressure on Shikhar who he felt was middling the ball well.
The manner in which Shikhar offered a dolly to Rakesh Mohanty at gully off Basant raises doubts about the Delhi captain’s form in the past few seasons of Ranji Trophy. If Mohit never looked a part during his 70-minute vigil, another debutant Manan Sharma did his cause no harm as he snapped up four wickets for 30 runs to help his team dismiss Odisha quickly. The left-arm spinner, son of former India cricketer Ajay Sharma, was not afraid to flight the ball and also got the odd one to turn and jump as he bought the wickets in an impressive manner even after getting hit.
Manan also had the advantage of bowling to the lower middle order after Delhi’s pace trio of Pawan Suyal (3/43), Sumit Narwal (2/35) and Parvinder Awana (1/23) polished the Odisha top-order who didn’t show a stomach for fight.
The most impressive among the Delhi pacers was left-armer Suyal who was rightly brought in place of non-performer Pradeep Sangwan. He bowled at a good pace and got the ball to move away from the right-handers, in the process getting openers Paresh Patel (9) and Natraj Behra. Odisha’s cause was hurt even more as skipper Natraj Behra (35) was retired hurt after being hit in the abdominal region off a Narwal delivery. He went out at score of 41 for three and came in to bat after the fall of the sixth wicket at 114. According to Delhi coach Dahiya, the immediate requirement would be to get the lead which is 82 runs away and he is banking on old warhorse Mithun Manhas to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility.
Brief scores: Odisha (1st innings): 143 all out in 47.1 overs (N Behra 35, Manan Sharma 4/30, P Suyal 3/43); Delhi (1st innings) 62/3 in 31 overs (Basant Mohanty 2/21).
TWIN TONS PRO RAJ
Vineet Saxena (114) and skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar (119) came up with twin centuries to guide Rajasthan to 269 for two against Mumbai on day one of the Ranji Trophy Group A match on Friday. Saxena and Kanitkar forged a massive 220-run partnership for the second wicket to put Rajasthan in a commanding position after Mumbai won the toss and asked the hosts to take first strike at KL Saini Ground.
Saxena cracked as many as 15 fours and one six in his 301-ball unbeaten innings, while Kanitkar took 192 balls for his century which was laced with 17 boundaries. At the draw of stumps, Robin Bist (14) was giving company to Saxena. For Mumbai, Kshemal Waingankar and Ankeet Chavan took one wicket each.
Odisha seamer Basant Mohanty grabbed 2 for 21 as he dismissed openers Shikhar Dhawan and Unmukt Chand for 22 and 3, respectively. Seamer Deepak Behra ended debutant Mohit Sharma’s 70-minute ordeal as he scratched around for 16. Even coach Vijay Dahiya admitted that Mohit’s failure to rotate the strike increased pressure on Shikhar who he felt was middling the ball well.
The manner in which Shikhar offered a dolly to Rakesh Mohanty at gully off Basant raises doubts about the Delhi captain’s form in the past few seasons of Ranji Trophy. If Mohit never looked a part during his 70-minute vigil, another debutant Manan Sharma did his cause no harm as he snapped up four wickets for 30 runs to help his team dismiss Odisha quickly. The left-arm spinner, son of former India cricketer Ajay Sharma, was not afraid to flight the ball and also got the odd one to turn and jump as he bought the wickets in an impressive manner even after getting hit.
Manan also had the advantage of bowling to the lower middle order after Delhi’s pace trio of Pawan Suyal (3/43), Sumit Narwal (2/35) and Parvinder Awana (1/23) polished the Odisha top-order who didn’t show a stomach for fight.
The most impressive among the Delhi pacers was left-armer Suyal who was rightly brought in place of non-performer Pradeep Sangwan. He bowled at a good pace and got the ball to move away from the right-handers, in the process getting openers Paresh Patel (9) and Natraj Behra. Odisha’s cause was hurt even more as skipper Natraj Behra (35) was retired hurt after being hit in the abdominal region off a Narwal delivery. He went out at score of 41 for three and came in to bat after the fall of the sixth wicket at 114. According to Delhi coach Dahiya, the immediate requirement would be to get the lead which is 82 runs away and he is banking on old warhorse Mithun Manhas to shoulder the bulk of the responsibility.
Brief scores: Odisha (1st innings): 143 all out in 47.1 overs (N Behra 35, Manan Sharma 4/30, P Suyal 3/43); Delhi (1st innings) 62/3 in 31 overs (Basant Mohanty 2/21).
TWIN TONS PRO RAJ
Vineet Saxena (114) and skipper Hrishikesh Kanitkar (119) came up with twin centuries to guide Rajasthan to 269 for two against Mumbai on day one of the Ranji Trophy Group A match on Friday. Saxena and Kanitkar forged a massive 220-run partnership for the second wicket to put Rajasthan in a commanding position after Mumbai won the toss and asked the hosts to take first strike at KL Saini Ground.
Saxena cracked as many as 15 fours and one six in his 301-ball unbeaten innings, while Kanitkar took 192 balls for his century which was laced with 17 boundaries. At the draw of stumps, Robin Bist (14) was giving company to Saxena. For Mumbai, Kshemal Waingankar and Ankeet Chavan took one wicket each.