Ranji Trophy: Govinda Poddar’s unbeaten knock gives Odisha a slim 2-run lead over Jammu and Kashmir

Just like on Day 2, the spotlight on the third day of Odisha’s Ranji Trophy Elite Group A match against Jammu & Kashmir was stolen by home skipper Govinda Poddar.
As wickets kept tumbling at the opposite end on Sunday, Poddar showed his perseverance as he won Odisha the vital first-innings lead and ensured three points for the home side in Cuttack. In the process, Poddar registered his eighth first-class century and remained unbeaten on 133 as Odisha managed to outplay J&K by two runs to end their first innings at Barabati Stadium on 272.
Thereafter, the visiting J&K batters reached 195/4 at stumps on Day 3 riding another good knock from first-innings’ centurion Abdul Samad, who ended the day unbeaten on 70.
Resuming the day on 198/5, Poddar was a man on a mission as he kept the scoreboard ticking for Odisha, along with his overnight partner, wicketkeeper-batter Aasirwad Swain (32). Their 111-run partnership for the sixth wicket looked en route earning the hosts a comfortable lead.
However, things began to go south soon after Swain was dismissed by Abid Mushtaq with the scoreboard reading 217 — still 53 runs off the J&K total. While Mushtaq (4-84) and Umar Nazir Mir (3-33) demolished the Odisha lower order with an impressive attack from both ends, they could not break Poddar’s resolve as he kept the score in motion for his team.
They were still seven runs adrift of J&K’s score when Nazir dismissed No. 10 batter Rajesh Mohanty with the total at 263. But it was the skipper who led from the front and singlehandedly added nine more runs before the last Odisha wicket fell with the hosts taking a crucial two-run lead.
While Suryakant Pradhan dismissed opener Abhinav Puri with J&K just having one run on board in their second innings, Shubham Khajuria (43) and Shubham Pundir (40) steadied the visitors’ innings before Samad took reins and continued his form from the first innings.
However, with one more day left in the fixture, it looks unlikely that J&K’s belligerence can earn the game a result on Monday.
Brief scores: Jammu & Kashmir 270 & 195/4 (S Khajuria 43, S Pundir 40, A Samad 70 batting). Odisha 272 (A Sarangi 35, G Poddar 133 n.o., A Swain 32; Nazir 3-33, Mushtaq 4-84). Match to continue.