Sanjay Raul's century bolsters Orissa

Orissa had made 262-5 at the end of the first day of their East Zone league match against Assam thanks to a fine century from ODI discard Sanjay Raul. Raul, who made a brief appearance in India colours against Pakistan at the Sahara Cup in Toronto in 1998 (2 matches, avg. 4.00), walked in at a shaky 27-2 and proceeded to carve 120 from 231 balls before he was out in the penultimate over of the day. He added 102 for the 4th wicket with RR Parida (28). At stumps P Jai Chandra, having made a rapid 40, was accompanied by Robin Morris on 2.

Bihar cautiously progressed to 223-5 from 92 overs on Day 1 of their East Zone league match against Bengal at Jamshedpur yesterday. The most enterprising innings of the day came from Rajiv Kumar who hit 65 from 85 balls with 11 boundaries. Sandeep Roy on 36 and Satish Singh on 5 were together at close of play. For Bengal, captain Utpal Chatterjee was the most rewarded bowler with 2-60 from 35 overs.

Mumbai were bowled out for 297 in 89.5 overs on the first day of their West Zone league tie against Saurashtra at Mumbai yesterday. Although at the top of the order, Amit Pagnis (45), Abhijit Rane (43) and Amol Mazumdar (51) all got a start, they were unable to build upon it. Saurashtra leggie Dharmendra Chudasama throttled the middle order as Mumbai fell away from 135-2 to 206-7. It was left to Paras Mhambrey, who scored a century against earlier this season, to revive his side once more with an unbeaten 65. He and Abey Kuruvilla (27) smacked three sixes apiece in an entertaining climax. Chudasama finished with 5-67 from 26 overs.

Atul Bedade's 139 carried Baroda to a respectable 309-7 on the opening day of their West Zone league match against Maharashtra at Pune yesterday. After four wickets had fallen for 94, the left handed Bedade, who played 13 ODI's for India at an average of 22.57, added 190 for the fifth wicket with captain Tushar Arothe (60). But Maharashtra would have reason to be satisfied with the last three quarters of an hour when they grabbed three wickets for 25 runs to peg back Baroda from a commanding 284-4. Bedade's knock was predictably made at a breakneck pace: 139 off 166 balls with 21 fours and 2 sixes.