Ranji Trophy: Pacers Push MP To Back Foot After Odisha Post Massive 498

Bhubaneswar: The bowlers backed up a brilliant performance by batters to put Odisha on top in their Ranji Trophy clash against Madhya Pradesh at Indore.

After posting a massive first-innings total of 498, Odisha reduced the home team to 246/6 on the third day of the Elite Group D fixture.

Odisha, resuming on Sunday at 493/8, lost their last two wickets within 8 balls. Subhranshu Senapati failed to add to his marathon career-best 277-run knock.

The Odisha medium-pacers then got into the business and left MP gasping at 32/3 with Prayash Singh, Suryakant Pradhan and Sunil Roul bagging a wicket apiece.

Venkatesh Iyer, who has played 2 ODIs and 9 T20Is for India, then retired hurt on 3.

A mini recovery was cut short as Prayash trapped skipper Aditya Shrivastava to bag his second wicket.

Odisha were then frustrated by Harsha Gawli and Saransh Jain, who put their heads down to counter whatever Odisha bowlers threw at them.

Gawli’s perseverance was richly rewarded as he reached his maiden first-class century and remained unbeaten on 137 (242 balls, 19×4) at stumps.

He and Saransh added 101 runs for the fifth wicket before Roul had the latter caught-behind by Rajesh Dhuper.

Gawli found another gutsy lower-order partner in Aryan Pandey, and the duo added 56 valuable runs. Odisha, however, had the last laugh as Roul induced an edge off Aryan’s bat to be gobbled up by Dhuper again.

Roul, who took 19 wickets in his first three Ranji matches, was Odisha’s most successful bowler with 3/76, while Prayash (2/55) and Suryakant (1/46) also shared the spoils.

Odisha, who lost to Baroda in the campaign opener, will look to ensure the first-innings lead on the final day and then push for an outright win if time permits.

Brief scores: Odisha 498 all out in 170.2 overs (Shubhransu Senapati 277, Harshit Rathod 60, Rajesh Dhuper 51; Saransh Jain 3/90). Madhya Pradesh 246/6 in 80.3 overs (Harsh Gawli 137 batting, Saransh Jain 40; Sunil Roul 3/76, Prayash Singh 2/55).

Match to continue on final day.