Despite a valiant unbeaten 142 by Pravanjan Mallick, Orissa were bowled out for a modest 318 in their first innings by Madhya Pradesh who were happily placed at 132 for two at close on day two of the five-day Ranji Trophy Plate division semi-final in Cuttack on Monday.
Resuming at their overnight score of 217 for four, Orissa lost wickets at regular intervals as Madhya Pradesh leg spinner Yogesh Golwarkar wreaked havoc in the Barabati Stadium capturing six for 95. However, Mallick stood unconquered at the other end.
The visitors replied well with opener Naman Ojha, who had four victims behind the stumps, batting on 72 (7 x 4) and skipper Devendra Bundela on 22 (4 x 4).
Orissa received a jolt early in the day when overnight batsman Niranjan Behera was claimed by Golwarkar after adding seven runs to his overnight score of 34.
Except Sanjay Satpathy (26), none else could provide support to Mallick who remained unbeaten on 142 (415 minutes, 11 x 4, 5 x 6). Harbinder Sodhi and Sanjay Pandey were the other successful bowlers claiming two for 48 and one for 74 respectively.
Madhya Pradesh openers Muddasar Pasha (20) and Ojha raised 51 runs for the first wicket when the former was caught by Rashmi Ranjan Parida off Sanjay Satpathy. Number three Sachin Dholpure also did not last long as skipper Sanjay Raul had him caught by Parida for nine.
Ojha and Bundela have so far added 53 runs for the third wicket.
Scoreboard:
Orissa 1st innings (overnight 217 for four)
BBCC Mohapatra c N Ojha b H Sodhi 13
Subrat Behera b Y Golwarkar 19
Rashmi Ranjan Parida run out 34
Sanjay Raul c N Ojha b Y Golwarkar 11
Pravanjan Mallick not out 142
Niranjan Behera c D Bundela b Y Golwarkar 41
Sukhbinder Singh LBW b S Pandey 8
Sanjay Satpathy c S Dholpure b H Sodhi 26
Debasis Mohanty st N Ojha b Y Golwarkar 12
Deepark Mangaraj st N Ojha b Y Golwarkar 0
Srikant Jena b Y Golwarkar 1
Extras (nb-9, w-2) 11
Total (all out in 124.5 overs) 318
Fall of wickets: 1/13, 2/38, 3/67, 4/108, 5/226, 6/240, 7/269, 8/303, 9/305
Bowling: Sanjay Pandey 27-7-74-1, Harbinder Sodhi 17-5-48-2, Yogesh Golwarkar 36.5-10-95-6, Debendra Bundela 5-1-13-0, Narendra Hirwani 35-6-81-0, Abbas Ali 4-1-7-0.
Madhya Pradesh 1st innings
Muddasar Pasha c R R Parida b S Satpathy 20
Naman Ojha not out 72
Sachin Dholpure c R R Parida b S Raul 9
Debendra Bundela not out 22
Extras (b-2, lb-2, nb-5) 9
Total (for two wickets in 53 overs) 132
Fall of wickets: 1/51 2/79
Bowling: Deepak Mangaraj 7-0-37-0, Debasis Mohanty 9-3-20-0, Pravanjan Mullick 3-1-9-0 Srikanta Jena 12-4-19-0, Sanjay Satpathy 11-1-27-1, Sanjay Raul 9-2-16-1, Niranjan Behera 2-2-0-0.
