Govinda Podder struck a run-a-ball unbeaten 77 to guide Odisha to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Assam in their Group A Ranji Trophy cricket match, here today.
Set an easy target of 142 runs for an outright win, Odisha rode on Podder's unbeaten fifty which was studded with 13 boundaries to romp home in 35 overs and with a day to spare.
Besides Podder, Anurag Sarangi was unbeaten on 29 and Rajesh Dhuper made 21.
For Assam, Arup Das (1/45) and Pritam Das (1/42) picked up one wicket apeiece in Odisha's second innings.
Earlier resuming their second innings at the score of 137 for eight, Assam failed to add a single run to their total as Odisha bundled out the visitors in just nine balls of the morning.
Jamaluddin Syed Mohammad remained starnded on one end on unbeaten 42 as Odisha cleaned up Assam's last two batsmen in no time.
Odisha's bowling hereo in the first innings, Basant Mohanty picked up three wickets in the second i8nnings to return with impressive match figures of eight for 53, whioch earned him the man-of-the-match award.
But it was Suryakant Pradhan who stole the lime light for Odisha in the second innings with figures of five for 27.
By virtue of this win, Odisha pocketed six points from the match while Assam returned empty-handed.
Brief Score:
Assam 1st innings: 92 & 137 all out in in 75.3 overs (J Syed Mohammad 42 not out; SB Pradhan 5/27).
Odisha 1st innings: 88 & 142 for two in 35 overs (Govinda Podder 77; Pritam Das 1/42).
