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Superb knock by S.S. Das

Special Correspondent

CUTTACK: Orissa skipper Shib Sundar Das produced a disciplined unbeaten 75 to lead his team’s fightback against Hyderabad on the second day of the four-day Elite group ‘A’ Ranji Trophy match on Tuesday.

Playing in his 150th game, the opener helped Orissa end the day at 150 for three in reply to Hyderabad’s 296. The visitor, which resumed at 228 for five, folded up below 300. Wicketkeeper Abhinav Kumar made an unbeaten 99 (193b, 13x4), his career-best.

Sparkling start

Orissa began its chase in a sparkling manner with Bikas Swarup Pati showing early aggression, striking two boundaries in M.P. Arjun’s first over. The openers added 86, Das being the dominant partner with 43 compared to Pati’s 37.

Pati was the first to leave, trying to sweep off-spinner Amol Shinde and getting trapped in front. At the other end, Das was confidence-personified. Tight defence and occasional boundaries marked his more than four-hour vigil in which he faced 154 balls. All his nine fours were sweetly timed and he is well on course to score his 24th first class hundred.

Despite losing Niranjan Behera (8) and Payas Ranjan Sinha (14) cheaply, Das kept going. Except for a chance at silly point off Shinde, Das’s innings was flawless. Hyderabad skipper N. Arjun Yadav rotated his bowlers in a bid to remove Das but all his efforts went in vain.

Basant strikes

Earlier, in a dramatic start to the day’s play, Basant Mohanty had Shinde caught behind and off the next ball had M.P. Arjun shouldering arms to an incoming delivery. Ojha helped Abhinav add 53 for the eighth wicket.

The scores: Hyderabad — 1st innings: T. Suman lbw b D. Mohanty 0, D. Ravi Teja lbw b P. Das 71, D. Rushi Raj b D. Mohanty 15, N. Arjun Yadav c & b P. Das 9, S. Anoop Pai lbw b B. Mohanty 78, Abhinav Kumar (not out) 99, A. Shinde c H. Das b B. Mohanty 2, M.P. Arjun b B. Mohanty 0, P. Ojha lbw b D. Mohanty 10, S.M. Shoaib b P. Das 1, Ashwin Yadav (run out) 0; Extras (b-6, lb-3, w-2): 11; Total (in 118.1 overs): 296.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-24, 3-58, 4-137, 5-228, 6-230, 7-230, 8-283, 9-292.

Orissa bowling: D. Mohanty 31-11-63-3, B. Mohanty 34-10-81-3, P. Das 21.1-4-59-3, Jayachandra 2-0-14-0, Sehgal 15-0-57-0, R. Mohanty 6-2-7-0, Behera 9-4-6-0.

Orissa — 1st innings: B.S. Pati lbw b Shinde 37, S.S. Das (batting) 75, N. Behera c Pai b Ojha 8, P.R. Sinha lbw b Shinde 14, P. Das (batting) 6; Extras (b-2, lb-7, nb-1): 10; Total (for three wkts. in 55 overs): 150.

Fall of wickets: 1-86, 2-99, 3-130.

Hyderabad bowling: Arjun 11-2-44-0, Shoaib 13-5-24-0, Yadav 7-0-29-0, Ojha 15-4-18-1, Shinde 8-2-16-2, Teja 1-0-10-0.

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