Captain Saurabh Tiwary and Virat Singh hit half centuries as Jharkhand predictably took the first innings lead against Odisha in a group B match at the KCA-St.Xavier’s College ground here on Friday.
Jharkhand, in reply to Odisha’s first innings score of 152 runs, scored 236 for five at stumps on the second day to lead by 84 runs. The Odisha attack was not threatening but was disciplined and made the Jharkhand batsmen work hard for their runs.
There was nothing in the pitch to help the Odisha bowlers but they struck to their task by maintaining tight line and length and induced mistakes from the Jharkhand batsmen.
Medium pacer Basant Mohanty was the pick of bowlers with two for 43 while Suryakant Pradhan, Deepak Behera and Govind Poddar took a wicket each.
In the morning, medium pacer Suryakant Pradhan jolted Jharkhand when he dismissed opener Sumit Kumar cheaply. Anand Singh and Virat Singh added 63 runs for the second wicket before Anand got out to Govinda Poddar.
Virat Singh after completing his half-century hung his bat out to a wide delivery from Basant and the edge was snapped at point by Poddar.
Saurabh was not fluent but he was willing to play the waiting game. It was an innings characterised by long periods of watchfulness followed by sudden bouts of aggression. Tiwary was severe on anything short. A slapped four over mid-wicket off medium-pacer Basant stood out.
Saurabh looked set for a big score but had to retire due to cramps. Both Ishant Jaggi and Ishan Kishan, two of Jharkhand’s top batsmen this season, failed as Odisha stifled the runs in the third session. Jharkhand could add just 63 post tea.
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