In a stunning display of individual brilliance overshadowed by collective team failure, Odisha's opening batter Swastik Samal smashed a magnificent double century, only to see it go to waste as Saurashtra clinched a thrilling five-wicket victory in their Elite Group D Vijay Hazare Trophy encounter. The match, played in Alur on Wednesday, turned into a run-fest where bowlers from both sides faced severe punishment.
Samal's Historic Knock and Odisha's Recovery
Asked to bat first, Odisha found themselves in early trouble at 59 for 3. However, what followed was a spectacular counter-attack led by the young opener, Swastik Samal. Teaming up with captain Biplab Samantray, Samal launched a breathtaking assault on the Saurashtra bowling attack. The duo constructed a monumental partnership of 261 runs, completely shifting the momentum of the game.
Samal was in a destructive mood, racing to 212 runs off just 169 deliveries. His innings was studded with 21 boundaries and eight massive sixes. This was not just his maiden List A century but a monumental double hundred, making him the 14th Indian male cricketer to achieve a double century in List A cricket. At the other end, skipper Samantray played the perfect supporting role, scoring a fluent 100 from 91 balls. Their efforts propelled Odisha to a formidable total of 345 for 6 in their 50 overs.
Saurashtra's Chase Led by Debutant Gajjar
Chasing a daunting target of 346, Saurashtra's innings mirrored Odisha's start, stumbling early to 28 for 2 in the eighth over. The chase needed a hero, and it arrived in the form of debutant Sammar Gajjar. Displaying remarkable composure, Gajjar anchored the innings with an unbeaten 132 off 118 balls.
He did not do it alone. He found able allies in Vishvaraj Jadeja (50), Prerak Mankad (47), and the aggressive Chirag Jani, who blazed his way to a quickfire 86. The lower order, including Ruchit Ahir's unbeaten 22, provided the finishing touches. Saurashtra reached the target with seven balls to spare, finishing at 347 for 5 in 48.5 overs to start their campaign with a win.
Bowling Struggles and Key Takeaways
For Odisha, the bowling performance was a major letdown. Apart from Debabrata Pradhan, who managed to take 3 wickets for 73 runs in his nine overs, the rest of the attack lacked penetration and conceded runs freely, failing to defend the massive total. For Saurashtra, Ankur Panwar was the most successful bowler with figures of 3 for 68.
The match will be remembered for Samal's extraordinary feat, a knock that announced his arrival on the big stage. He has been in fine form, having scored 169 against Nagaland in the Ranji Trophy recently. However, cricket is a team sport, and Saurashtra's collective batting effort, spearheaded by a dream debut from Gajjar, proved superior on the day. Samal had to be content with the Player of the Match award in a losing cause.
Brief Scores: Odisha 345/6 in 50 overs (Swastik Samal 212, Biplab Samantray 100; Ankur Panwar 3/68) lost to Saurashtra 347/5 in 48.5 overs (Sammar Gajjar 132*, Chirag Jani 86; Debabrata Pradhan 3/73) by 5 wickets.
