An unbeaten 96 by vice-captain Pravanjan Mallick and his unbroken 109-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Niranjan Behera helped hosts Orissa post 217 for four at close on the first day of their five-day Ranji Trophy Plate division semi-final against Madhya Pradesh at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday.
Orissa's decision to bat first after captain Sanjay Raul won the toss appeared to backfire as four wickets tumbled with just 108 runs on the board.
But Mallick (eight fours, three sixes, in 250 minute) and Behera (34 not out) steadied the rocking boat in a fine partnership. For the visitors, leg spinner Yogesh Golwarkar was the most successful bowler of the day capturing two wickets for 79.
The home side suffered a jolt even before the match started when opener Shiv Sundar Das was ruled unfit to play due to a calf-muscle injury.
Das was replaced by B B C C Mohapatra, considered an explosive batsman, who opened with Subrat Behera.
Mohapatra began in his own style hitting three fours off the eight balls he faced but perished when he edged a Harbinder Sodhi delivery to wicket keeper Naman Ojha for 13.
Orissa were rocked again when Behera was bowled by Golwarkar for 19 with the total on 38.
Skipper Raul and experienced Rashmi Ranjan Parida took the total to 67 when the former fell edging Golwarkar to the keeper after making 11. Parida, who remained at the crease for 187 minutes, was run out after scoring 34 (five fours) and adding 41 runs for the fourth wicket.
Mallick was then joined by young Niranjan Behera who batted with assurance to arrest the slide.
The bowlers did not pose much problem for the two batsmen as they cruised along registering a century partnership.
Mallick was not afraid to jump out of the crease to loft the spinners and hit Golwarkar twice for sixes. He hit former India leggie Narendra Hirwarni for another huge six.
Mallick completed his 50 in 147 minutes after facing 112 balls. The 109-run partnership between the duo went on for 184 minutes.
Scoreboard:
Orissa 1st innings
BBCC Mohapatra c N Ojha b H Sodhi 13
Subrat Behera b Y Golwarkar 19
Rashmi Ranjan Parida run out 34
Sanjay Raul c N Ojha b Y Golwarkar 11
Pravanjan Mallick not out 96
Niranjan Behera not out 34
Extras: (nb-9, w-1) 10
Total (for four wickets) 217
Fall of wickets: 1/13 2/38 3/67 4/108
Bowling: Sanjay Pandey 18-5-36-0, Harbinder Sodhi 11-4-25-1, Yogesh Golwarkar 28-9-79-2, Devendra Bundela 5-1-13-0, Narendra Hirwani 24-3-57-0 Abbas Ali 4-1-7-0.