Vijay Hazare Trophy: Odisha End Campaign With Another Loss, Despite Kartik Biswal’s Century

Mumbai: Odisha batsmen put up a much better show, thanks to Kartik Biswal’s unbeaten century. But there was no change in the team’s Vijay Hazare Trophy fortunes as they went down by 5 wickets to Punjab at DY Patil Stadium on Monday.

Odisha thus ended their disappointing campaign with 5 defeats in 6 games, finishing 6th in the seven-team Elite Group D – just ahead of minnows Nagaland.

Asked to bat first, Odisha rode a fine partnership between Kartik and Biplab Samantray to post 251/7 in 50 overs.

Coming together after the dismissal of Abhishek Raut (18), Govinda Poddar (13) and Subhranshu Senapati (18), Kartik and Biplab added 108 runs for the fourth wicket.

Kartik’s unbeaten 107 off 112 balls was studded with 10 fours and a six, while Biplab – recalled to the squad midway through the tournament along with Govinda — scored 51 off 52 deliveries with 4 fours and a six.

Punjab slumped to 108/4 before skipper Mandeep Singh (91 not out) carried Punjab home with plenty to spare.

Brief scores: Odisha 251/7 off 50 overs (Kartik Biswal 107*, Biplab Samantray 51; Siddharth Kaul 3/57). Punjab 252/5 in 46.4 overs (Mandeep Singh 91*, Abhishek Sharma 41; Prayash Singh 4/51).

Result: Punjab won by 5 wickets.