Orissa survive collapse,eye three points

Despite a post-lunch mini-collapse that saw four batsmen falling for 3 runs in the space of 9 overs,Orissa would back themselves to take the lead against Railways

Despite a post-lunch mini-collapse that saw four batsmen falling for 3 runs in the space of 9 overs,Orissa would back themselves to take the lead against Railways. Finishing the day at 294/5,the visitors were 84 adrift of Railways first innings total of 379,and three points.

At the end of the first session,Orissa would have fancied their chances of taking the lead. But as the post-lunch play saw them slumping to 210/5 from 207/1,the tide seemed to be turning. Subit Biswals dismissal started the slide. On 31,the Orissa No. 3 fell to a ball from Sanjay Bangar that stayed low. In the very next over,Orissa lost opener Paresh Patel five short of what would have been his maiden century. Patel moved too far across the line and was bowled as he tried to swing left-arm spinner Ashish Yadav to the fence.

With the score still healthy,it wasnt yet time to panic. That time would come two overs later as Biplab Samantray found himself at sea against an Ashish Yadav delivery that dipped,broke and bounced past his lunge,pausing only to take the edge of his bat before lodging in keeper Mahesh Rawats gloves. Orissa captain Halhadar Das tried to stall the stumble by closing one end down,playing out 20 balls without opening his account,but only delayed the inevitable as he edged one to Shreyas Khanolkar off Murali Kartik.

That Railways were unable to finish the day in a better position was due to the fact that Orissa dominated play on either side of the collapse. The visitors had resumed play on 108/0 and would lose just one wicket,opener Subhrajit Sahoo for 70 with the score on 124,in the first session. Sahoo was bowled by Bangar off a delivery that didnt quite bounce after pitching,one of many such throughout the day.

With the wicket providing sharp turn and variable bounce,Patel and Biswal played circumspectly,their partnership of 78 coming in 39.3 overs. Govind Poddar and Abhilash Mallick added 39 and 36 runs respectively in an unbeaten 84 run partnership post-collapse. With Orissa on track to take the first innings lead,Railways would probably be hoping for another collapse as soon as possible on the last day.

Brief scores: Railways 379 vs Orissa 294 for 5 Paresh Patel 95,Subhrajit Sahoo 70; Ashish Yadav 2/23,Sanjay Bangar 2/49