Odisha Fights Hard but Tamil Nadu Clinches Victory in Bhubaneswar
Impressive all-round show by Sonu Yadav seals massive win
Bhubaneswar: The Ranji Trophy Elite Group A encounter at the KIIT Stadium concluded on Sunday with a decisive victory for the visitors. In the high-stakes Tamil Nadu vs Odisha Ranji Trophy match, the home team suffered a defeat by 207 runs despite a valiant batting effort on the final day.
Tamil Nadu proved too strong across all departments, setting a massive target of 455 runs for Odisha. While the result was disappointing for local fans, the match featured some standout individual performances.
Sonu Yadav Steals the Show
The architect of Tamil Nadu's win was undoubtedly Sonu Yadav. He was named Player of the Match for a stellar all-round performance. In the first innings, his bowling decimated the Odisha lineup as he claimed 5 wickets for just 30 runs, restricting the hosts to a paltry 148.
He didn't stop there. With the bat, Yadav smashed a quickfire 74 off 75 balls in the second innings, helping Tamil Nadu post a commanding total of 316. His contributions made the chase nearly impossible for the home side.
Heartbreak for Anil Parida
For Odisha, the highlight was the grit shown by batter Anil Parida. Facing a massive deficit, Parida anchored the second innings with immense patience. He faced 220 balls but suffered a heartbreaking moment when he was dismissed for 98, missing a well-deserved century by just two runs.
Captain Subhranshu Senapati also contributed a solid 55, adding some respectability to the scoreboard. However, the rest of the batting lineup struggled against the spin and pace of the Tamil Nadu attack, eventually crumbling for 247.
Match Summary
Earlier in the game, Tamil Nadu scored 286 in their first innings, with Athish SR and Pradosh Ranjan Paul scoring half-centuries. Odisha’s bowlers, led by Rajesh Mohanty and Debabrata Pradhan, had initial success, but the team could not capitalize with the bat in their first outing.
This loss leaves Odisha with work to do in the Elite Group A standings, while Tamil Nadu takes home valuable points from their trip to Bhubaneswar.
Image Source: The Hindu
