Lucknow: Odisha ended their dismal losing streak in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with a 27-run victory over Chhattisgarh at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium B on Tuesday.
Having posted a modest 135/8 in their allotted 20 overs, Odisha were rescued by the bowlers as they skittled out Chhattisgarh for 108.
Odisha’s batters struggled once again, sinking to 35/5 in 8.1 overs. Skipper Biplab Samantray bailed the team out with a 41-ball 61, which included 4 fours and as many sixes. He found an able ally in Subham Satrujit (27 off 25 balls, 3×6). Samantray and Satrujit’s 78-run partnership for the sixth wicket turned out to be the decisive one in what turned out to be a low-scoring game.
Medium-pacer Rajesh Mohanty proved to be Chhattisgarh’s chief tormentor, ripping out their top and middle order with a four-wicket burst in his first three overs. Chhattisgarh didn’t recover from the nightmarish start as Mohanty finished with 5/21, and Samantray (2/23) showed his all-round qualities.
Despite their first win after three defeats to start their campaign, Odisha still find themselves at the bottom of Elite Group A, in eighth place. Though Odisha and Chhattisgarh both have 4 points, the latter have a marginally better net run-rate (NRR).
BRIEF SCORES
Odisha 135/8 in 20 overs (Biplab Samantray 61, Subham Satrujit 27; Ajay Mandal 4/25).
Chhattisgarh 108 in 19.4 overs (Amandeep Khare 46, Sanjeet Desai 33; Rajesh Mohanty 5/21, Prayash Singh 2/19, Biplab Samantray 2/23).
Result: Odisha bt Chhattisgarh by 27 runs.
Player of the Match: Rajesh Mohanty.
Elite Group A standings: Chhattisgarh 7th (4 points, NRR -1.486), Odisha 8th (4 pts, NRR -1.497).
Next match: Odisha vs Railways (Dec 4, 4.30 pm) at Lucknow.
