Delhi, Feb 19: Odisha faced yet another Ranji Trophy defeat this season on Monday, with hosts Delhi beating them convincingly by 7 wickets. It was Odisha's fourth defeat in seven Elite Group D matches.
Delhi left-arm orthodox spinner Sumit Mathur, who grabbed 9 Odisha wickets in the match, was rightly adjudged Player of the Match. Mathur got enviable figures of 4/97 and 5/26 in both innings, as he turned out to be the wrecker-in-chief for Odiisha.
Winning the toss, Odisha had put on board a respectable first innings score of 440 with twin tons by Subhranshu Senapati (111) and Biplab Samantray.
But Delhi managed to take the vital 11 runs first innings lead by scoring 451. They too had two centurions in flamboyant Yash Dhull (112) and Jonty Sidhu (105 not out).
But it was Odisha's second innings batting collapse that led to their shocking defeat. The visitors were limited to only 133, with their top three unable to open accounts. Young wicketkeeper Aasirwad Swain (29) was the highest scorer, as Odisha wickets tumbled like nine pins.
Chasing a victory target of 123, Delhi batted sensibly on the final day of the four-day Ranji battle, to pull up an emphatic win, with 7 wickets in hand.
Odisha finished their Ranji campaign this season with only 1 win, 4 defeats, two draws. With only 12 points from 7 matches, they were placed 6th in the Elite Group D Points Table. Himachal Pradesh with 11 points were at the bottom.
Madhya Pradesh with 32 points topped Group D. They were followed by Baroda 24, Delhi 20, Jammu and Kashmir (18), Uttarakhand 17, Puducherry 13, Odisha 12 and Himachal Pradesh 11.
Brief Scores:
Odisha 440 & 133;
Delhi 451 & 123/3.
Delhi won by 7 wickets.
Player of the Match: Sumit Mathur (Delhi);
Points: Delhi 6, Odisha 0.
