Bhubaneswar: Read were struggling at 23 without loss at stumps on the third day of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group C match against Jharkhand at the KIIT Cricket Stadium Wednesday, trailing by 410 runs after the visitors declared their first innings at 433 for eight.
Openers Swastik Samal and Gourav Choudhury were unbeaten on 17 and six respectively when play ended, with Read facing a daunting task to overcome the substantial first-innings deficit.
Jharkhand’s commanding total was built around centuries from Aditya Singh and Robin Minz, who played contrasting yet crucial innings.
Aditya scored 104 off 298 deliveries, striking nine boundaries, while Minz remained unbeaten on 100 off just 140 balls, hitting 11 fours and two sixes.
The duo provided the backbone of Jharkhand’s innings, with Minz accelerating the scoring after Aditya’s patient knock.
Anukul Roy also made a valuable contribution, scoring 89 off 140 balls, including seven fours and two sixes.
For Read, Rajesh Mohanty was the most successful bowler, claiming two wickets for 43 runs in 27 overs. Lalit Yadav also picked up two wickets, conceding 86 runs in 29 overs, while Badal Biswal finished with one wicket.
Jharkhand had resumed their innings from 37 for three on the opening day and steadily consolidated their position, reaching 258 for five at the close of the second day before declaring at 433 for eight on the third.
With only five overs of batting completed in their first innings, Read will need substantial contributions from their top and middle order to avoid conceding a significant first-innings lead.