Bhubaneswar: Odisha’s promising campaign in the Vijay Hazare Trophy is coming apart.
Three wins on the trot have been followed by two defeats now, pushing Odisha from the top of Elite Group D to fifth position.
On Tuesday, Odisha crumbled to a massive 233-run loss against Gujarat at Bengaluru’s BCCI Centre of Excellence Ground 3.
Chasing 334, Odisha were skittled out for a paltry 100 in 28.1 overs. Medium-pacer Chintan Gaja ran through the Odisha line-up, bagging 6/31 in 9.1 overs.
Skipper Biplab Samantray top-scored with 22 as six batters fell before reaching double digits.
Earlier, Gujarat rode a solid batting effort to post 333/6. Team India allrounder Axar Patel struck 8 fours and 2 sixes en route to 73 off 60 balls. Urvil Patel (64 off 49), Ahaan Poddar (64) and opener Aarya Desai (54) also hit half-centuries.
Samantray (2/33) was again the best performer with the ball as the team used eight bowlers.
BRIEF SCORES
Gujarat 333/6 in 50 overs (Axar Patel 73, Urvil Patel 64, Ahaan Poddar 64, Aarya Desai 54; Biplab Samantray 2/33).
Odisha 100 all out in 28.1 overs (Biplab Samantray 22; Chintan Gaja 6/31).
Result: Gujarat bt Odisha by 233 runs.
Player of the Match: Chintan Gaja
Points: Gujarat 6, Odisha 0.
Group D standings: Gujarat 4th (12 points, NRR 0.939), Odisha 5th (12 points, NRR -0.039).
Next match: Odisha vs Railways (Jan 8, Alur).
