Kanpur: Halfway through their Ranji Trophy clash against Uttar Pradesh at Green Park Stadium here, Odisha are firmly on the back foot.
UP, chasing Odisha’s 243, reached 262/3 at stumps on Sunday.
Despite managing to post a modest first-innings total, Odisha looked to be in the contest for the first half of Day 2 in the Elite Group A contest.
Debutant Sambit Baral, who scored a handy unbeaten 59 on the opening day to push Odisha’s total close to 250, showed his skills with the ball as well. The 23-year-old part-time medium-pacer cleaned up opener Abhishek Goswami (24) and No. 3 Aryan Juyal (0) in the norning session.
After lunch, Sambit trapped Madhav Kaushik leg-before wicket for 67 to break a 71-run partnership with skipper Karan Sharma. With UP on 116/3, Odisha would have fancied their chances of restricting the home team.
However, Odisha were sent on a leather hunt for the rest of the day as Karan (83*) and Aaradhya Yadav (80*) guided UP to a strong 262/3.
Skipper Subhranshu Senapati used 6 bowlers, but none other than Sambit got among wickets.
Unless Odisha can dent the UP middle order on the third morning, they could be left staring at a huge first-innings deficit.
BRIEF SCORES
Odisha first innings: 243
Uttar Pradesh first innings: 262/3 (Karan Sharma 83 batting, Aaradhya Yadav 80 batting, Madhav Kaushik 67; Sambit Baral 3/35).
Match to continue on Day 3.