Tangi (Cuttack), Jan 20: At Day 2 stumps, hosts Odisha were only 76 runs ahead of Jammu and Kashmir with three second innings wickets in hand, in the four-day Ranji Trophy Group D match at DRIEMS Ground in Cuttack on Saturday.
The hosts faced yet another batting collapse and were struggling at 126/7 in 43 overs.
Top order batter Sandip Patnaik (47 in 108 balls) and pacer Suryakant Pradhan (27 in 25 balls) were trying to rescue the hosts, with an unbroken 59 runs partnership for the 8th wicket.
Only three Odisha batsmen could reach double-digit score in the second innings. Apart from the unbeaten duo of Patnaik and Pradhan, opener Anurag Sarangi (16 in 30 balls) was the other batter, who could withstand the J&K quality attack for some-time.
All the four bowlers used by J&K skipper Shubham Khajuria got success in bowling friendly conditions.
Any target set by Odisha below 150, is likely to be cashable despite bowlers dominating proceedings at the DRIEMS track.
Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir scored 180 in their first innings, thereby taking vital 50 runs lead.
From match point of views, the 50 runs first innings lead is crucial for J&K, as batting in the seam-friendly track still appears tricky, where pacers continue to dominate proceedings.
Jammu and Kashmir's middle order batters Abdul Mushtaq (50 in 51 balls), Subham Pundir (34 in 71 balls) batted sensibly and did not hesitate to free their hands whenever they had an opportunity.
Towards the end, Umar Nazir Mir (25 in 23 balls) too played a cameo and enabled his side to go past Odisha's first innings total.
Odisha pacers Rajesh Mohanty (5/64) and Sunil Roul (3/32) despite their best efforts could not stop J&K from taking 50 vital runs lead.
Yesterday, fourteen wickets had tumbled on Day 1, with Odisha suffering a shocking batting collapse after a comparative good start. On Friday, at stumps on Day 1, in reply to Odisha's 130 in 47.2 overs, J&K were 45/4.
Brief scores at Stumps Day 2:
Odisha: 130 & 126/7 in 43 overs (Sandip Patnaik 47*, Rohit Sharma 2/23);
J&K: 180/10 in 45.4 overs. (Abdul Mushtaq 50, Rajesh Mohanty 5/64).
Odisha lead by 76 runs with three 2nd innings wickets in hand.
(Match to Continue).
