Jamshedpur: Odisha had a chance to end their disappointing 2025-26 Ranji Trophy season on a high.
However, Jharkhand denied them that satisfaction, eking out a four-wicket win at Keenan Stadium here on Sunday to snatch a quarterfinal berth.
Needing a victory to pip Vidarbha to second place in Elite Group A standings, a determined Jharkhand reached their target of 246 in the final session of the game, losing four wickets.
Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh and Vidarbha all finished with 31 points, but the top two qualified for the knockout stage by virtue of gaining more bonus points (3 and 2, respectively, vis-à-vis Vidarbha’s 1).
Odisha managed just 7 points in as many games, losing 5, winning 1 and losing 1.
Resuming their second innings at 202/8 on the final day, Odisha were dismissed for 226. Govinda Poddar fell for 31, as spinners Anukul Roy (5/72) and Aditya Singh (4/77) cut through the Odisha lineup.
Chasing 246, Jharkhand adopted a cautious approach. Solid knocks by opener Sharandeep Singh (64) and Robin Minz (63), followed by a handy 45 by Anukul thwarted Odisha bowlers.
The only redeeming feature was left-arm spinner Sayed Tufayl Ahmad’s superb debut performance. The 18-year-old Tufayl bagged four wickets in each innings for a match haul of 8/179.
BRIEF SCORES
Odisha first innings: 282
Jharkhand first innings: 263
Odisha second innings: 226 (Govinda Poddar 31; Anukul Roy 5/72, Aditya Singh 4/77).
Jharkhand second innings: 249/6 (Sharandeep Singh 64, Robin Minz 63, Anukul Roy 45; Sayed Tufayl Ahmad 4/101, Govinda Poddar 2/93).
Result: Jharkhand beat Odisha by 4 wickets.
Points: Jharkhand 6, Odisha 0.
Final Group A standings: Jharkhand 2nd, qualify (31 points); Odisha 7th (7 points).
