Himachal piles up 405 for 8 against Orissa

Cuttack, Jan 30 (UNI) Visitor Himachal Pradesh were in a strong position against Orissa as they took a 88-run first innings lead and were 405 for 8 at close on the third day in their Ranji trophy plate group final at Barabati stadium here today.

The Orissa bowlers struggled as Ajaya Manu and Mukesh Sharma played fluently to carry forward the foundation laid by their captain Sandeep Sharma who had scored a brilliant 76 yesterday.

Both, however, fell short of scoring their centuries and were dismissed in their 80s. Mukesh fell to Sanjaya Satpathy for 84 while Ajaya was claimed by Saurav Sahegal for 82 runs.

By then, they had carried Himachal Pradesh beyond the Orissa first innings total. Their rescue act in the form of a seventh wicket partnership had come at a time when Himachal had lost two quick wickets early in the morning.

In fact, Himachal had started the day disastrously when they resumed at 157 for three and were 161 for five losing the wickets of Paras Dogra and Vishal Bhatia. Barun Sharma also fell cheaply scoring only 12 runs.

A strong rearguard action by Mukesh Sharma who was bowled by Sanjaya Satpathy for 84 and Sarandeep Singh and Ashok Thakur, who remained unbeaten with 22 and 35 runs respectively, saw Himachal secure a lead of 88 runs over Orissa.

For Orissa Debashis Mohanty, Saurav Sahegal and Sanjaya Satpathy claimed two wickets each.

Brief Score:- Orissa 1st Innings 317 all out (Niranjan Behera 69,Rashmi Ranjan Das 55, Vishal Bhatia 6 for 84) Himachal Pradesh : 1st Innings 405 for 8 (Sandeep Sharma 76, Ajaya Manu 82, Mukesh Sharma 84, Debashis Mohanty 2 for 70, Saurav Sahegal 2 for 89).

UNI