Das, Raul take Tripura to the cleaners

Centuries by SS Das and Sanjay Raul put Orissa in an imposing position by stumps on the second day of their Ranji Trophy East Zone tie against Tripura at the Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium in Agartala on Saturday. Having declared their first innings at 378/4 for a lead of 264, Orissa made an early breakthrough in the Tripura second innings as the hosts finished at 29/1.

Overnight batsmen Das and Raul extended their third wicket association to a massive 223 before being separated. Skipper Das was the first to make his exit from the proceedings - in the day's 56th over - but not before belting a mediocre attack for 178 (260 balls, 25 fours, 3 sixes). After he fell at 304, Raul continued to punish the bowling until he was run out for 134 (212 balls, 11 fours, 2 sixes). Three overs later Das mercifully declared the innings closed, leaving their opponents to play out the remaining 15 overs. Fifteen-year-old left arm seamer Tushar Saha took two of the three wickets that fell to the bowlers.

Although Debashis Mohanty packed off opener RP Chaudhuri in the fifth over, skipper S Dasgupta and RN Ghosh survived the efforts of five different bowlers to take Tripura safely through to stumps. Tripura goes into the third day on Sunday needing a further 235 to avoid the ignominy of an innings defeat.