Ranji Trophy: Jharkhand close in on first-innings lead against Odisha

Opener Shikhar Mohan made a brisk 80 off 91 balls with 14 boundaries and a maximum to take hosts Jharkhand to 244 for six from 67 overs in reply to Odisha’s 282 in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match in Jamshedpur on Friday.Besides Mohan, wicketkeeper Kumar Kushagra (47), skipper Virat Singh (32) and Robin Minz (37 batting) also made useful contributions to take the home side within close distance of their opponents’ total. Aditya Singh (6 batting) was giving Minz company at stumps on the second day as Jharkhand trail Odisha by only 38 runs going into the third day with four wickets in hand.Right-arm fast bowler Rajesh Mohanty (2/37) picked up two wickets for Odisha, while 18-year-old debutant Sayed Tufayl Ahmad impressed with his left-arm orthodox spin, taking three wickets for 73 runs from 21 overs at Keenan Stadium.harkhand lost opener Sharandeep Singh (8) early, but Mohan and Kushagra built a 98-run stand for the second wicket to lend solidity to the innings. However, wickets at regular intervals despite the next batters getting starts pegged Jharkhand back.Earlier, resuming on 242 for 6, Odisha finished their first innings adding only 40 runs to the board as veteran Biplab Samantray failed to add a run to his overnight score of 38. Rajesh Mohanty’s 25 helped Odisha to 282 in the end.In another group match in Sovima, leaders Andhra (28 points) were 267 for 5 in 70 overs in their first innings at stumps on the second day in reply to Nagaland’s 366, still trailing the hosts by 99 runs. CR Gnaneshwar was batting on 87 off 120 balls, while giving him company was KV Sasikanth (31). Jharkhand, second in the group and on equal points with Vidarbha (25), will keep an eye on the outcome of this match.Brief Scores: Odisha (o/n 242/6) 282 in 104.5 overs (Biplab Samantray 38; Aditya Singh 3/35, Saurabh Shekhar 3/43). Jharkhand 244/6 in 67 overs (Shikhar Mohan 80, Kumar Kushagra 47, Robin Minz 37 batting; Sayed Tufayl Ahmad 3/73). Match to continue.