Bhubaneswar: A spectacular collapse saw Odisha suffer an embarrassing defeat in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A clash against Baroda at Vadodara’s Kotambi Stadium.
Trailing by 263 runs, Odisha were shot out for 165 in their second innings in just 34 overs to hand Baroda victory by an innings and 98 runs — with more than a day to spare. All 10 wickets fell to spin, with left-arm spinner Ninad Rathva claiming a career-best 6/60, while Bhargav Bhatt and Mahesh Pithiya shared the other 4.
Skipper Krunal Pandya (119 off 143 balls, 15×4, 4×6) hit his third first-class century as Baroda added 102 runs on the third morning in just over 20 overs before folding up for 456 in the first innings. Odisha skipper Govinda Poddar, an occasional offie, bagged only his second 5-wicket haul in a 87-match first-class career.
But when their turn to bat a second time came, the senior pro and other batters came a cropper.
Not sure how to approach the stiff task of saving the game on a pitch responsive to spin, Odisha started on a cautious mode. Shantanu Mishra failed to open his account for 15 deliveries before being dismissed to the 16th ball he faced.
That signalled a change in approach, with fellow-opener Anurag Sarangi (49, off 62, 7×4, 2×6) and Sandeep Pattanaik (29, 3×4, 1×6) playing their strokes freely. In what turned out to be the brightest partnership in Odisha’s second innings, Sarangi and Pattanaik added 58 runs at almost 4.5 runs an over.
Four wickets then fell in a hurry, in the space of 6 overs for the addition of 19 runs, to leave Odisha gasping at 88/5.
Pushed to a corner, Kartik Biswal decided to counter-attack as if there was no tomorrow. Biswal (53 not out off 26 balls) smashed 11 fours and a six as he and Aashirwad Swain added 46 runs for the sixth wicket in 4 overs.
But it was too good to last, and once Swain fell to Bhatt, Baroda spinners cleaned up the Odisha lower order in no time, leaving Biswal stranded.
It was Odisha’s first defeat in 3 games this season, and they sit in sixth place with 4 points.
Up next for Poddar’s men are Ranji Trophy heavyweights Mumbai.
Brief Scores
Odisha 1st innings: 193
Baroda 1st innings: 456 (Krunal Pandya 119; Govinda Poddar 5/131, Sunil Roul 2/92).
Odisha 2nd innings: 165 in 34 overs (Kartik Biswal 53 not out, Anurag Sarangi 49; Ninad Rathva 6/60).
Result: Baroda beat Odisha by an innings & 98 runs.
Points: Baroda 7, Odisha 0.
Elite Group A standings: Odisha 6th (4 pts in 3 games), Baroda 1st (19 pts).
Odisha’s next match: Vs Mumbai (Nov 6, Mumbai).
