Cuttack: Odisha let themselves down with another batting collapse in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash against Jammu & Kashmir at the DRIEMS ground here on Saturday.
Despite having their backs to the wall, the home team is putting up a rearguard action through a gutsy eighth-wicket partnership between Sandeep Pattanaik (47 batting) and No. 9 Suryakant Pradhan (27 batting), which has helped Odisha nose ahead by 70 runs and given their bowlers at least something to bowl at.
Having conceded a significant 50-run lead on a pacer-friendly pitch, Odisha were gasping at 67/7 in their second innings with six of their batters once again falling for single-digit scores. Pattanaik and Pradhan then showed the stomach for a fight and saved Odisha the ignominy of a possible two-day rout.
Pattanaik defended well against Jammu & Kashmir pace quartet of Rohit (2/23), Umar Nazir (2/27), Auqib Nabi (2/44) and Umran Malik, while Pradhan chanced his arm in his unbeaten 25-ball knock.
Jammu & Kashmir resumed Day 2 on a shaky 45/4, in reply to Odisha’s first essay of 130, and were still well behind at 85/6. But Abid Mushtaq (50) then combined with the tailenders to not only catch up with Odisha’s total but also go 50 runs in front.
Rajesh Mohanty (5/64) picked up his fifth five-wicket haul and Sunil Roul bagged three.
Brief scores: Odisha 130 all out & 126/7 (Sandeep Pattanaik batting 47, Suryakant Pradhan batting 27; Rohit Sharma 2/23, Umar Nazir 2/27). Jammu & Kashmir 180 all out (Abid Mushtaq 50, Shubham Pundir 34; Rajesh Mohanty 5/64, Sunil Roul 3/32).
Match to continue on Day 3.
