Seeking to climb back to the Elite group of the Ranji Trophy after last year's dismal show, Orissa began their campaign in style crushing Goa by an innings and 99 runs in the Plate division at the Barabati stadium at Cuttack on Wednesday.
Goa, who were 41 for one at close on Tuesday and required to make 232 runs to avoid an innings defeat, collapsed to 132 all out soon after the lunch on the fourth and final day of the match.
Orissa claimed five points from the tie including a bonus point while Goa had to return empty handed.
The home bowlers, led by medium pacers Debashis Mohanty and Bipin Singh, maintained relentless pressure this morning as none of the Goa batsmen could play any worthwhile innings.
Singh (5 for 46) ripped through the top half of the batting while Mohanty, who had claimed five wickets in the first innings, grabbed two wickets.
Goa's centurion in the first innings, Swapnil Asnodkar who had retired hurt yesterday after cramps in his shoulder, was trapped lbw by Singh for 21 (4x4), while Rohit Rane (23) was the top scorer of the innings. Amit Dani and Faizal Shaikh made 22 and 20 respectively.
Off-spinner Sanjay Satpathy (two for 37) and debutant left-arm spinner Srikanta Jena (one for 29) also bowled well.
Orissa will play Maharashtra in their next match starting on December one.
Scoreboard:
Goa 1st innings: 235
Orissa 1st innings: 466 for 8 decl
Goa 2nd innings
Shagun Kamat lbw b Mohanty 0
Swapnil Asnodkar lbw b B.Singh 21
Faizal Shaikh c S.Singh b B.Singh 20
Rohit Rane lbw b B.Singh 23
Mandar Phadke lbw b B.Singh 0
Rajesh Naik b S.Satpathy 14
Shadeb Jakati c S.Singh b B.Singh 0
Amit Dani c S.Satpathy b Mohanty 22
Somsekhar Shiriguppi b S.Jena 11
D.C.Rajesh not out 8
Avinash Aware c P.Mullick b S.Satpathy 10
Extras (b-1, lb-1, w-1) 3
Total (all out in 54.3 overs) 132
Fall of wickets: 1/0, 2/54, 3/54, 4/61, 5/69, 6/69, 7/97 8/112, 9/114.
Bowling: Debashis Mohanty 15-8-19-2, Bipin Singh 14-2-46-5, Srikanta Jena 13-2-29-1, Sanjay Satpathy 12.3-2-36-2.