23-Nov-2008 109
A superb haul of seven wickets for 27 runs by medium pacer Basant Mohanty and a half-century each by Niranjan Behera and Subit Biswal put hosts Orissa in a advantegious position on the very first day of their four-day Ranji Trophy Group-A Super League match against Punjab at the East Coast Railway ground in Bhubaneswar today.
Put into bat by Orissa skipper Shiv Sundar Das, Punjab were skittled out before lunch for a paltry total of 60. In reply, the home side rode on a 127-run third wicket partnership between Behera (74) and Biswal (54) to finish the fruitful day at 148 for five.
The virgin pitch with a fair amount of grass on it proved to be an ideal hunting ground for Basant, who bamboozled the opposition with his deceptive pace and movement off the track to set up a pre-celebration for his 22nd birthday tomorrow.
In his first spell of nine overs, the tall and lanky Basant broke the backbone of Punjab, bagging five wickets for 27 runs. His second spell, comprising just two balls, fetched him two wickets. In the process, Basant bettered his previous career best figures of six for 28 against Bengal at Siligudi last year.
Former India swing bowler Debasis Mohanty provided good support to his understudy Basant, picking two wickets for 18 runs. Skipper Pankaj Dharmani (23 not out) was the only Punjab batsman to reach double figures.
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