The Rajesh Mohanty-led Odisha bowlers delivered on Day 2 but failed to stop the Services from taking the crucial first-innings lead at DRIEMS Ground in Tangi, near Cuttack, on Friday, and now look to the batters to come good and help Odisha end their Ranji Trophy campaign on a high.
Mohanty took five scalps while Tapas Das sent back another three as Services batters — back on field in the morning on 85/2 — could add just 114 runs to their first innings before losing the remaining eight wickets. However, it was still enough to outplay Odisha’s first essay by 19 runs as the visitors ensured three points in their Elite Group A Ranji match.
They had Arjun Sharma to thank for the feat as the Services No. 4 batter endured a lethal Odisha attack with poise en route a 147-ball 120 that guided his team to the lead.
Later, the Odisha batters, who had succumbed to the Services bowlers in the first innings, made a steady start to the second innings and were 166/3 when stumps were called on the second day. It was courtesy a half-century by opener Aasirwad Swain, who was batting on 63, and his disciplined 150-ball innings on the day. He will back at the crease on Day 3, accompanied by Rajesh Dhupper, batting on 29.
However, the hosts will need to put up a lot more on the board on a worsening pitch to finish their last match of the league stage, and their last of the season, on a winning note.
Brief scores: Odisha 180 & 166/3 in 50.5 overs (A Swain 63 batting, R Dhuper 29 batting). Services (o/n 85/2) 199 in 54.4 overs (R Chauhan 120; Mohanty 5-68, Das 3-57). Match to continue.