Orissa go down fighting

February 16: The might of Mumbai had to quell some protracted resistance from the young Orissa outfit before emerging victors by an innings ...

February 16: The might of Mumbai had to quell some protracted resistance from the young Orissa outfit before emerging victors by an innings and 46 runs at the Wankhede Stadium today. The Mumbai victory in their second Group A Ranji Trophy Super League was a foregone conclusion. The question was how soon they would be able to achieve it.

Mumbai, however, had to contend with the determination of Orissa. Their dour batting display kept the high-profile Mumbai attack at bay till 30 minutes into the last session of the penultimate day.

Vice-captain Rashmi Ranjan Parida 71: 156b, 161m, 11215;4 and wicket-keeper Gautam Gopal 58: 109b, 119m, 11215;4 led the batting honours for Orissa in their second essay which folded at a respectable 297.

Left-arm spinner Nilesh Kulkarni scalped five wickets for 74 runs to end up with match figures of 9-110.

The Orissa fightback was initiated by opener Pinninti Jayachandra 40: 108b, 140m, 3215;4 and skipper Shiv Sundar Das 35: 76b, 133m, 2215;4. The Sunday night unbeaten duowere involved in Orissa8217;s highest stand for the match, notching 76 runs for the third wicket.

Debutant left-arm medium-pacer Sandeep Dahad broke the association by inducing an edge from Jayachandra.

The 22-year-old Parida and Prasanth Mohapatra 26 then extended the resistance with a 66-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Nilesh Kulkarni claimed the latter. Four more wickets, including that of Parida, fell for the addition for 61 runs 8212; Nilesh Kulkarni capturing three of them. And just when the end seemed near, the Delhi-born Gautam Gopal influenced a rear-guard action in the company of tail-ender Subhas Mohanty 11 not out. Aided by some wayward bowling, the ninth-wicket pair realised 56 runs in 12.3 overs.

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Abey Kuruvilla ended the frustration for Mumbai by capturing Gopal with a perfect outgoing delivery. And when Dahad claimed his second first-class wicket, it was all over bar the shouting for Orissa.

The result was keeping in terms with the potential of the two sides. However, theirsecond innings batting display drew applause from the Mumbai coach Balwinder Singh Sandhu. 8220;They showed an improved attitude,8221; remarked Sandhu.

Orissa skipper Shiv Sundar Das felt that if his side were to make a mark in the Super League, the batsmen will have to fare better. 8220;Playing against a big team like Mumbai was of a good experience,8221; he said.

Das8217; team travels to Rourkela for their second match against Karnataka from February 23.

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Mumbai collected eight points from the match to log 16 points from their two encounters. They proceed to Mohali for their third Group A clash against Punjab from March 4.

SCOREBOARD

Orissa 1st innings: 150

Mumbai 1st innings: 493

Orissa 2nd innings: Bijaya Bhushan Mohapatra c Nilesh Kulkarni b Kuruvilla 9, Pinninti Jayachandra c Sulakshan Kulkarni b Dahad 40, Pravanjan Mullick c Kuruvilla b Mhambrey 3, Shiv Sundar Das c amp; b Nilesh Kulkarni 35, Rashmi Ranjan Parida c amp; b Nilesh Kulkarni 71, Prasanth Mohapatra c Kambli b NileshKulkarni 26, Robin Morris b Nilesh Kulkarni 8, Gautam Gopal c Sulakshan Kulkarni b Kuruvilla 58, Sahid Khan c Kuruvilla b Nilesh Kulkarni 0, Subhas Mohanty not out 11, Ajay Barik b Dahad 0;

Extras b 14, lb 5, nb 17: 36.

Total all out in 89 overs; 377 minutes: 297

Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-23, 3-99, 4-119, 5-175, 6-205, 7-234, 8-236, 9-292

Bowling: Kuruvilla 15-1-69-2 nb 6, Mhambrey 17-3-63-1 nb 9, Dahad 9-2-31-2 nb 2, Nilesh Kulkarni 32-10-74-5, Pawar 16-3-41-0

Result: Mumbai won by an innings and 46 runs

Points: Mumbai 8, Orissa 0