Odisha Thrashes Assam by an Innings and 3 Runs

(Reporters Today) Cuttack: Odisha thrashed Assam by an innings and three runs on the fourth and final day of a Ranji Trophy Group ‘C’ match here on Thursday, after the visitors suffered a dramatic batting collapse. Resuming at the overnight score of 102 for no loss, Assam crumbled like a pack of cards to be bundled out for 195 in the space of 24 overs.

The home team picked up seven points for the win and took its tally to 35 points from seven games at the top of Group C. Overnight Assam batsmen Subham Mandal (74) and wicket-keeper Kunal Saikia (72) added 22 more runs before the latter fell to Debabrata Pradhan. Saikia’s exit gave Odisha the breakthrough it was looking for as from there on they picked up wickets at regular intervals.

Right-arm medium-pacer Rajesh Mohanty was the wrecker-in-chief, picking up four wickets including that of top-scorer Mandal. Barring the top two, none of the other Assam batsmen got into double figures.