Odisha completed a six-wicket win over Maharashtra on day one of a low-scoring third-round match of the Buchi Babu all-India invitation tournament on Friday.
Left-arm spinner Sudipta Swain (four for 18) and seamer Basant Mohanty (three for 43) were the wreckers-in-chief as Maharashtra, electing to bat, capitulated for 110.
Useful knocks from Rakesh Mohanty, Natraj Behera, and Haladhar Das saw Odisha chase down the total without much trouble. Odisha and Maharashtra — first and second in Group ‘A’ — qualified for the quarterfinals.
The two teams, along with Hyderabad, were level on four points. But Odisha and Maharashtra edged out Hyderabad by virtue of better net run-rate.
While Baroda confirmed its berth in the last eight by topping Group ‘B’, TNCA President’s XI and Saurashtra have made it to the quarterfinals from Group ‘C’.
The President’s XI side improved its chances of finishing on top of its group, scoring 387 for five against Saurashtra.
K. Dinesh Karthik (137 retd. hurt, 193b, 15x4, 3x6) notched up his second hundred of the tournament even as opener R. Nilesh Subramanian (70), skipper R. Prasanna (83), and Vijay Shankar (54) contributed handsomely.
Kerala put up a strong batting performance as well, finishing with 387 for six against Gujarat. Abhishek Hegde (107, 183b, 11x4, 2x6) and Sanju Vishwanadh Samson (121, 158b, 14x4, 2x6) added 142 runs for the second wicket.
It was Hegde’s second century of the competition.
Mumbai piled up 366 for nine against TNCA XI with each of its top six batsmen scoring over 40.
Pacer J. Kaushik scalped four wickets.
J. Syed Mohammed’s ton (100, 152b, 14x4) helped Assam muster 244 runs against Vidarbha. Gaurav Upadhyay and Siddesh Neral claimed three wickets each.
The scores (third round): Group ‘A’: Maharashtra 110 in 49.3 overs (Ankit Bawne 48, Sudipta Swain four for 18) lost to Odisha 112 for four in 37.4 overs. Points: Odisha 4 (4), Maharashtra 0 (4).
Group ‘B’: Mumbai 366 for nine in 90 overs (Swapnil Salvi 63, Kaustubh Pawar 60, Siddhesh Lad 46, Nikhil Mandle 54, Swapnil Pradhan 41, Gaurav Jathar 58, J. Kaushik four for 66) vs. TNCA XI.
Group ‘C’: TNCA President’s XI 387 for five in 90 overs (R. Nilesh Subramanian 70, K. Dinesh Karthik 137 retd. hurt, R. Prasanna 83, Vijay Shankar 54) vs. Saurashtra.
Group ‘C’: Assam 244 in 87.5 overs (J. Syed Mohammed 100) vs. Vidarbha five for no loss (Vidarbha was awarded five penalty runs after Assam was penalised for its batsmen running on the wicket).
Group ‘D’: Kerala 387 for six in 90 overs (Abhishek Hedge 107, Sanju Vishwanadh Samson 121) vs. Gujarat.
