Cuttack: Odisha are battling to avoid innings defeat in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A clash against Andhra Pradesh.
Chasing Andhra’s mammoth total of 475/7 declared, Odisha folded like a pack of cards to be bowled out for 151 in the first innings at the Barabati Stadium. Asked to follow on after trailing by 324 runs, Odisha showed some fight in the second innings, going into stumps on Day 3 on 190/2.
Sandeep Pattanaik followed up his first-innings half century (58) with another disciplined knock of 63. Gourav Choudhury, who scored 48 in the first innings, was unbeaten on 79 at stumps on Monday.
Odisha, resuming on Day 3 at 80/4, continued to slip after the experienced Govinda Poddar fell in the day’s sixth over. Pattanaik completed his fifty and was the seventh batter to be dismissed after compiling 58 off 131 balls.
Pattanaik resisted the Andhra bowlers in the second innings, too, being slightly more positive in his approach. Coming in to bat after Swastik Samal’s run out ended the 66-run opening partnership, Pattanaik formed a useful partnership with the other opener Gourav Choudhury.
Pattanaik struck 6 fours and 2 sixes in his 125-ball 63 but was dismissed for the second time in a day, falling to the guile of off-spinner Saurabh Kumar.
Gourav, playing only his second first-class game, showed good application and batted patiently to remain unbeaten on 79 which came in 163 deliveries and included 10 fours.
BRIEF SCORES
Andhra Pradesh first innings: 475/7 declared (Shaik Rasheed 140*, Saurabh Kumar 69; Govinda Poddar 2/80, Sambit Baral 2/85).
Odisha first innings: 151 in 56.4 overs (Sandeep Pattanaik 58, Gourav Choudhury 48; Tripurana Vijay 3/14, K Saiteja 3/30, Saurabh Kumar 3/32(.
Odisha second innings (following on): 190/2 in 58 overs (Gourav Choudhury 79 batting, Sandeep Pattanaik 63, Swastik Samal 36).
Match to continue on 4th and final day.
