Jharkhand Spinners Stage Dramatic Comeback After Batting Collapse in Ranji Trophy Clash
In a gripping turn of events at the Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand's spin attack mounted a spirited fightback on Saturday, despite their batting lineup faltering earlier in the day. The hosts, who began the third day of this Elite Group A Ranji Trophy encounter just 38 runs behind Odisha's first-innings total with four wickets in hand, suffered a dramatic morning collapse that ultimately handed their opponents a crucial 19-run lead.
Morning Collapse Costs Jharkhand Valuable First-Innings Points
Resuming their innings at 244 for six, Jharkhand's hopes of securing the first-innings lead for three valuable points quickly evaporated. Overnight batsman Robin Minz managed to complete a patient half-century, but he ran out of partners as the home side's innings folded for 263 in just 79.1 overs. This collapse proved costly, as Odisha capitalized on the opportunity to take the lead in this tightly contested match.
Spin Duo Roy and Singh Lead Jharkhand's Bowling Resurgence
Despite conceding the first-innings advantage, Jharkhand's bowlers responded with remarkable determination. The spin combination of slow left-arm orthodox bowler Anukul Roy and off-spinner Aditya Singh wreaked havoc on the Odisha batting lineup, sharing seven crucial wickets between them. Roy finished with impressive figures of 4 for 56, while Singh claimed 3 for 69. Off-break bowler Rishav Raj chipped in with one wicket to complete the bowling effort.
Odisha's Batting Struggles Despite Senapati's Resistance
Odisha, despite securing the first-innings lead, failed to build a commanding position in their second essay. Captain Subhranshu Senapati displayed tremendous patience and skill to score a resilient 73, but he received little support from his teammates. Most Odisha batters failed to capitalize on their starts, even after spending considerable time at the crease. By stumps on Day 3, Odisha had reached 202 for eight, giving them an overall lead of 221 runs heading into the final day.
Quarterfinal Implications Add Pressure to Final Day
With only one day remaining in this crucial encounter, the stakes could not be higher for both teams. Jharkhand, led by captain Virat Singh, face a challenging task to secure maximum points from this match. The situation is particularly pressing given the standings in Elite Group A. Group leaders Andhra are certain to take at least three points from their match against Nagaland, while third-placed Vidarbha—currently level on points with Jharkhand at 25—need just 110 runs with six wickets in hand for an outright win against Uttar Pradesh.
This means Jharkhand must push hard for victory on the final day to enhance their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals as one of the top two teams from the group. The home side will aim to quickly wrap up Odisha's second innings in the morning session before mounting what promises to be an exciting chase for victory.
Brief Scores: Odisha 282 & 202/8 in 76.5 overs (Subhranshu Senapati 73; Anukul Roy 4/56, Aditya Singh 3/69). Jharkhand (o/n 244) 263 in 79.1 overs (Robin Minz 52; Sayed Tufayl Ahmad 4/78, Govinda Poddar 3/71). Match to continue.
