Cuttack: Andhra Pradesh dominated most of the opening day before young pacers Sambit Baral and Badal Biswal helped Odisha claw back in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A clash.
Andhra Ricky Bhui won the toss and opted to bat first after a delayed start at Barabati Stadium here on Saturday. Odisha bowlers found the going tough as openers KS Bharat and Abhishek Reddy put on 161.
But once Biswal broke through the defence of wicketkeeper-batter Bharat, Andhra lost the momentum to close the day at 222/3.
Bharat, who has played 7 Test matches for India, missed his century by seven runs. His strokeful 93 (10×4, 3×6) came off 129 balls.
Reddy was much more cautious and circumspect, his 76 coming off 195 deliveries before being caught by Gourav Choudhury off Baral. In the same over, Baral struck another big blow, trapping Bhui leg-before wicket before he had opened his account.
Sheikh Rasheed and Karan Shinde denied Odisha further success.
Odisha handed 21-year-old wicketkeeper Sourav Gouda a first-class debut, at the expense of Aashirwad Swain.
BRIEF SCORES
Andhra Pradesh first innings: 222/3 in 68 overs (K S Bharat 93, Abhishek Reddy 76; Sambit Baral 2/32).
Match to continue on Day 2.
