Ranji Trophy: Karnataka in driver’s seat

OST Sports Bureau

Cuttack, Nov 30:

Having conceded a hefty lead of 153 runs in the first innings, hosts Odisha were 169 for four against Karnataka on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Group-A league match at the DRIEMS Ground at Tangi on Saturday.
Resuming at their overnight score of 288 for 4, Karnataka added 91 runs before being all out on 379.
For Odisha, Suryakant Pradhan was the highest wicket taker claiming 3 for 66.
Gautam (16), who added 48 runs for the fourth wicket with Pandey, soon got out. But Pandey, who resumed on 108, scored a patient 132 off 236 balls, laced with 15 fours and four sixes.

Abhimanyu Mithun, who had finished with impressive bowling figures of six for 52 in Odisha’s first innings, also contributed with the bat. He scored a quick-fire 48-ball 43 with the help of six boundaries and a six to help Karnataka take the upper hand.

Odisha, in their second innings, got off to a disastrous start with their top order back in the pavilion with the scorecard reading 36 for three. Govind Poddar and skipper Biplab Samantray tried to steady the boat a bit but the former fell for a 74-ball 34.
Samantray, however, found an able partner in Abhilash Mallick and the duo put on an unbeaten 95 runs for the fifth wicket by the draw of stumps. At close of play, Samantray was not out on 50, while Mallick was on 47.
HS Sharath (3/41) accounted for all the three Odisha wickets on the day.

Brief scores: Odisha: 226 & 169 for four in 60 overs.

Karnataka 1st innings: 379 all out