Orissa's top order clicks

Orissa's top order clicked on the opening day of their East Zone Ranji Trophy league match against Tripura at the Samanta Chandrasekhar college ground in Puri on Wednesday. At stumps the home team were 323 for three.

Electing to bat, Orissa were given a sound start with openers P Mahapatra (54) and P Das (68) putting on 121 runs off 38.2 overs. Mahapatra was the first to go after facing 116 balls and hitting nine fours. Das left at 154 after facing 165 balls and hitting six fours and a six. Skipper RR Parida and SS Raul (30) kept the momentum going with a third wicket partnership of 67 runs off 20.1 overs. And finally to make Orissa's day complete, Parida and P Jaichandra (51 not out) added 102 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket off 21.3 overs. Parida who was five runs short of his century, faced 143 balls and hit 15 of them to the ropes. Jaichandra was in a belligerent mood. He faced 61 balls and hit seven fours.