India Domestic: Orissa prevail in keen battle for lead

A keen battle for the first innings highlighted the second day's play in the Cooch Behar Trophy pre-quarter-final between Orissa and Andhra at the Telco Club ground on Thursday. Ultimately despite a gallant 103 by skipper YV Rao, Andhra were all out for 231, falling 23 runs short of the Orissa total. For Orissa, S Mohanty shone taking six for 50.

Resuming at 18 for two, Andhra were 79 for four. But Rajkiran and Rao added 73 runs for the fifth wicket before the former was out for 31. Wickets thereafter fell at regular intervals but Rao stood firm until he was eighth out at 214. Rao batted 208 minutes, faced 178 balls and hit 15 of them to the ropes. Mohanty who had Rao leg before then took the last two wickets to finish with a rich haul. He was well supported by S Rath who took three for 56. In the remaining time, Orissa stretched their overall lead to 109 by scoring 86 for three from 26 overs in their second innings. Opener Mahapatra hit a bright 52 off 75 balls with eleven hits to the fence.