Ranji Trophy: Rajesh Mohanty (5/33) Sets Up 238-Run Win For Odisha

Cuttack: Odisha recovered from a first-day horror show to turn their Ranji Trophy clash against Himachal Pradesh on its head and post a 238-run win at DRIEMS ground here on Monday.

It was Odisha’s first win in Elite Group D following two defeats and a draw, taking their tally to 9 points and pushing them to fifth in the eight-team standings.

Seemingly down and out with Himachal on 80/1 after having been bowled out for 138 on the opening day, Odisha staged a magnificent recovery – first through the bowlers and then batters.

If medium-pacer Rajesh Mohanty played a stellar role with the ball, bagging 3 wickets in Himachal’s first innings and five in the second essay, it was top-order batter Sandeep Pattanaik who put his hand up and delivered.

Sandeep, promoted to open in Odisha’s second innings, made a well-compiled career-best 150 to ensure a 387-run overall lead for the home team.

It was the 25-year-old right-hander’s second successive century following his 100 not out against Jammu & Kashmir in a lost cause last week.

Set a stiff victory target of 388, Himachal disintegrated from 108/2 to 176 all out as Rajesh produced a dream spell. Biplab Samantray supported him ably, picking up 2/25 following 3 scalps in the first innings.

BRIEF SCORES

Odisha 138 & 425/8 declared (Sandeep Pattanaik 150, Anurag Sarangi 70*, Biplab Samantray 46, Govinda Poddar 41; Rishi Dhawan 3/82).

Himachal Pradesh 176 (Ankit Kalsi 38; Rajesh Mohanty 3/56, B Samantray 3/30, Debabrata Pradhan 2/28, Sunil Roul 2/44) & 149 (Prashant Chopra 57; Rajesh Mohanty 5/33, B Samantray 2/25).

Result: Odisha won by 238 runs.

Player of the Match: Sandeep Pattanaik

Points position: Odisha 9 from 4 matches (5th place); Himachal 3 from 4 (8th).

Odisha’s next match: Vs Pondicherry at Cuttack from Feb 2.