Mumbai: Halfway through their Ranji Trophy encounter against Mumbai, Odisha are already looking down the barrel.
Chasing Mumbai’s mammoth first-innings total of 602/4 declared, Odisha were 146/5 at close on the second day of the Elite Group A fixture at Sharad Pawar Academy ground at BKC, Mumbai.
Shreyas Iyer, looking to catch the national selectors’ attention after being ignored for India’s tour of Australia, compiled a sparkling career-best 233 at a run-a-ball, striking 24 boundaries and 9 sixes. His 354-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Siddhesh Lad (169 not out) took the wind out of Odisha’s sails. After Iyer’s dismissal, before young Suryansh Shedge toyed with Odisha bowlers in a blistering unbeaten 79 off 36 balls (7×4, 6×6) before Mumbai called a halt to the onslaught.
Odisha then lost three batters – opener Swastik Samal, captain Govinda Poddar and Biplab Samantaray – without opening their accounts.
After Samal’s aerly dismissal to Shardul Thakur, Anurag Sarangi (39) and Sandeep Pattanaik showed some fight by compiling a 107-run partnership. But once Sarangi was dismissed, the familiar procession started.
Pattanaik, however, stood tall amid the ruins, engineered by spinners Himanshu Singh and Shams Mulani. The right-hander is unbeaten on a solid 73, made in 141 balls, including 11 fours and a six. He will need support from the other end to help Odisha reduce the deficit as much as possible.
Brief Scores
Mumbai 1st innings: 602/4 declared in 123.5 overs (Shreyas Iyer 233, Siddhesh Lad 169 not out, Suryansh Shedge 79 not out; Biplab Samantaray 2/57).
Odisha 1st innings: 146/5 (Sandeep Pattanaik batting 73, Anurag Sarangi 39; Himanshu Singh 2/22, Shams Mulani 2/52).
Match situation: Odisha train by 456 runs.
Match to continue on Day 3.
