Cuttack: Odisha’s hopes of pulling of an unlikely victory in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D clash against Jammu & Kashmir are still alive, thanks to a brilliant unbeaten 100 by Sandeep Pattanaik.
The No. 3 batter almost singlehandedly pulled Odisha out of a deep hole in the second innings and helped them set J & K a competitive 149-run target on a bowler-friendly track at DRIEMS ground.
J & K reached 72/4 at stumps on Sunday, thereby requiring 77 more runs on the final day, while Odisha need 6 wickets.
Rajesh Mohanty (3/29) and Sunil Roul (1/17) reduced J & K to 39/4 before Abdul Samad and Auqib Nabi denied the Odisha bowlers further success.
Odisha’s comeback story was scripted by Pattanaik and the tailenders.
Odisha were seemingly down and out at 67/7 on Saturday, as they led by just 17 runs at that stage. But Pattanaik, added 59 runs with assistance from Suryakant Pradhan. Pradhan was out early on Day 3, followed by Mohanty to push Odisha to 135/9.
Pattanaik then found another determined partner in Sunil Roul, who defended stoutly (6 off 50 balls) as the last-wicket partnership put on 63 invaluable runs.
Pattanaik played his shots and hit 17 boundaries, reaching his third first-class century off 187 balls and remaining not out on 100.
It was a remarkable effort considering the fact that only two other batsmen from either side managed 50-plus scores in three days of tough cricket for batters.
Brief scores: Odisha 130 and 198 (Sandeep Pattanaik 100 not out; Auqib Nabi 4/73, Umar Nazir 3/36). Jammu & Kashmir 180 and 72/4 (Abdul Samad batting 24; Rajesh Mohanty 3/29).
On final day: Odisha need 6 wkts, J & K 77 runs to win.
