Cuttack: Back in the team after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) revoked a two-year ban for producing multiple fake age certificates, Sumit Sharma claimed five wickets to help Odisha bowl out Jammu & Kashmir for 270 on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A fixture at Barabati Stadium on Friday.
Left-arm spinner Sumit’s victims included Abdul Samad, who top-scored with a strokeful 127 off just 117 deliveries. The 22-year-old left-hander smashed 6 fours and 9 sixes to rescue J & K out from 14/2 and 58/4.
New-ball operators Rajesh Mohanty (2/47) and Suryakant Pradhan (2/50) provided Odisha a great start, before Sumit came took centrestage. Had it not been from IPL star Samad’s sparkling knock, Odisha may have restricted to a much lower score.
In their reply, Odisha lost Shantanu Mishra (0) to the second ball of the innings. Anurag Sarangi and Sandeep Pattanaik prevented further damage as Odisha reached 15/1 at close of play.
Odisha had to be satisfied with 1 point in their opener against Tripura, as the four-day game was abandoned without a ball bowled in Tripura.
Brief Scores
Jammu & Kashmir 1st innings: 270 all out in 70.3 overs (Abdul Samad 127, Sahil Lotra 39; Sumit Sharma 5/79, Rajesh Mohanty 2/47, Suryakant Pradhan 2/50).
Odisha 1st innings: 15/1 in 9 overs.
Play to continue on Day 2.
