Odisha staged a remarkable turnaround in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy by clinching their third consecutive victory after opening the tournament with three straight defeats. The team delivered a dominant all-round performance on Saturday evening, hammering Assam by 73 runs to keep their campaign alive, even though qualification chances remain out of reach.

Despite this impressive hat-trick of wins, Odisha currently sit at fifth position in the Elite Group A standings with 12 points. Their final group-stage challenge will be against the formidable Mumbai side. However, even an upset victory against the table-toppers will not be enough for Odisha to break into the top two and progress to the Super League stage.

Odisha’s batting showed both resilience and intent. Their top four batters got promising starts but failed to convert them into big scores, leaving the team at 75 for 4 by the 12th over. The turning point came with a game-changing partnership between skipper Biplab Samantray and Aashirwad Swain. The pair unleashed an explosive, unbeaten 96-run standoff in just 50 balls, swinging the momentum in Odisha’s favour.

Samantray led from the front with an unbeaten 42 off 32 balls, smashing three fours and two sixes. Swain complemented him brilliantly with a blistering 51 off just 28 deliveries, studded with three fours and three sixes. Their partnership propelled Odisha to a competitive total of 171 for 4.

Assam’s chase never took off as Odisha’s bowling unit maintained relentless pressure. All six bowlers struck crucial blows, dismantling the opposition’s batting order with disciplined spells. Captain Biplab Samantray shone once again, picking up three wickets for just two runs in his solitary over. Badal Biswal contributed with two wickets, while Prayash Singh removed Assam’s key batter and captain Riyan Parag for 14, further derailing the chase.

Assam eventually succumbed without offering significant resistance, sealing a comprehensive victory for Odisha. The win reflects Odisha’s late surge in the tournament and highlights the team’s fighting spirit despite an unfavourable start and limited progression prospects.

This strong performance will serve as an important confidence booster as Odisha prepare for their final group match against Mumbai.