JOIN USOdisha manage slender lead against Colts
A gritty batting performance from Odisha just about helped them gain a crucial first innings lead over KSCA Colts on the second day of the Safi Darashah tournament at the M Chinnaswamy stadium here on Thursday.
A fine effort by medium pacer by David Mathias, who chipped in with four wickets, almost gave Colts the upperhand but valuable contributions right through the Odisha batting order saw them gain a slender five-run lead. After bundling out Colts for 204 the previous day, Odisha, overnight 16 for one, progressed to 209 for eight at close.
Girija Rout 41 (78b, 6x4) and Anurag Sarangi (31) had successfully seen through the first hour but Mathias uprooted Rout’s stumps just as he was coming into his zone.
The conditions were overcast but the pitch had eased out a bit, blunting the home bowlers. New man Govind Podder was looking very attractive – a glorious off-drive, a cut through point and a flick through mid-wicket illuminated the gloomy morning when Colts came roaring back into the match with two wickets in eight balls.
Sarangi was the first to go: the left-arm spin of Abrar Kazi inducing the southpaw into a drive which was pocketed by Samarth Ooty at mid-on. Spin was in operation at both ends at this stage and the move paid dividends when off-spinner Zeeshan Ali found Podder’s edge which was gleefully accepted by Siddharth at first slip.
Colts could smell panic among the Odisha batsmen and soon Arvind Singh was run-out following a mix-up. From 98/2 to 107/5, Odisha had handed the intiative right back to the Colts.
But new man Haladhar Das used the long handle to relieve the pressure. A straight six was the highlight of his innings but Kazi, the Colts’ skipper, soon snared the dangerous Das, who was caught in front of the wicket.
Promptly the rain came forcing the umpires into an early tea but just after the resumption, Mathias removed the resolute Biplab Samantray, who had batted for more than two hours. There was another rain break but Mathias, with his tails up, soon accounted for Suryakant Pradhan to reduce Odisha to 171/8.
But Deepak Behera and Basant Mohanty ensured they get an innings lead.
DH News Service
Brief Scores: Karnataka State Ccricket Association Colts: (I innings) 204 vs Odisha Cricket Association: 209/8 in 90 overs (Girija Rout 41, Biplab Samantray 33, Anurag Sarangi 31; David Mathias 4-63, Abrar Kazi 2-31).