Swastik’s century and Poddar’s fifer seal massive home victory
Bhubaneswar: Odisha cricket team delivered a commanding performance on their home turf, securing a resounding victory against Nagaland in the ongoing Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match. Playing at the KIIT Stadium in Bhubaneswar, the hosts outplayed the visitors in every department, clinching the match by a staggering margin of 299 runs on the final day.
First Innings
After winning the toss and opting to bat, Odisha faced early jitters but managed to post a respectable total of 275 runs in their first innings. The highlight was a gritty unbeaten century by Anil Parida, who scored 118 off 297 balls. He was ably supported by veteran Biplab Samantray, who missed his ton by just eight runs, scoring a crucial 92.
In response, Nagaland’s batting lineup struggled against the disciplined Odisha bowling attack. Despite a fighting 72 by Dega Nischal, the visitors were bundled out for just 161 runs. Odisha's all-rounders stepped up, with Govinda Poddar, Sambit Baral, and Rajesh Mohanty sharing the spoils to hand the hosts a significant first-innings lead.
Second Innings
With a healthy lead in hand, Odisha’s batters came out all guns blazing in the second innings. Swastik Samal was the star of the show, smashing a breathtaking 169 runs from just 195 balls, an innings laced with 11 boundaries and 6 sixes. Captain Subhranshu Senapati also displayed pure class, scoring a rapid 137.
Their aggressive partnership allowed Odisha to declare at a mammoth 350/5, setting Nagaland a near-impossible target of 465 runs for victory.
The Final Flourish
Chasing a mountain of runs, Nagaland crumbled under the pressure of the final day. The spin magic of Govinda Poddar proved too much to handle. Poddar spun a web around the batters, claiming a brilliant 5-wicket haul (5/69).
Badal Biswal provided excellent support with 3 wickets, ensuring Nagaland was dismissed for just 165 runs in 83 overs.
Match Result
Odisha pocketed 6 points from this comprehensive win. Swastik Samal was adjudged the Player of the Match for his game-changing knock in the second innings. The match also marked the First-Class debut for wicketkeeper Sawan Pahariya.
