The scenario concerning Orissa cricket in the Ranji Trophy has generally been constant. A second or third place in the East Zone which helps them qualify for the next stage and an early exit thereon, be it super league or knock out.

This season, the script has undergone a metamorphosis. The team finished first in the zone easily topping the table with 29 points, ten ahead of second placed Assam. Fancied Bengal, for years the kingpin in the zone, did not escape the Orissa `cyclone.' For the first time in 43 years, Orissa defeated their mighty neighbours - and on their home turf at the Eden Gardens. Besides, they beat Tripura and Assam and only Bihar managed to salvage three points from a drawn game in which Orissa clearly had the upper hand.

There was no change in the scenario even in the knock out rounds. First, Orissa routed Jammu & Kashmir by 420 runs with a day to spare in the pre quarterfinal. And then came a truly creditable seven wicket victory over Madhya Pradesh at Gwalior in the quarterfinal. Orissa have already created state cricket history by making the semifinals of the National championship for the first time. And given their impressive run, they will not be content to rest on their laurels on the eve of the semifinal against Baroda which commences at Baroda on Thursday. The hosts may start as slight favourites but this will not bother Orissa unduly. They have already scored over a couple of fancied sides this season.

How did this resurgence come about? It would be easy to say that the presence of India players Shiv Sundar Das and Debasish Mohanty has done much to inject a new found confidence in the side. There is no doubt Das and Mohanty have inspired Orissa to greater efforts by their own deeds. In the league stage for example, while the opening batsman and skipper made 257 runs at an average of 51.40. Mohanty did much to shape Orissa's triumphs and finished with 26 wickets at 12.19 apiece, including a eleven wicket haul against Bengal.

But Orissa's impressive performance has not revolved only around their India players. Sanjay Raul, the captain in the absence of Das, topped the averages in the league stage with 413 runs at 82.60 with two hundreds. Rashmi Ranjan Parida scored 274 runs in the league stage at an average of 68.50. Pravanjan Mullick's batting, the all round qualities of Pinninti Jayachandra and the support Mohanty has received from Jagannath Das, Sanjay Sathpathy and Raul have all been important factors. And in the knock out rounds, the side seems to have discovered new found confidence. Parida's batting symbolises this. In three innings against J & K and MP he has scored 220, 162 and 64 not out. That spirals his tally for the season so far up to 720. Sanjay Raul scored his third century of the season against J & K. And the partnership between Mullick (191) and Parida (220) which realised 358 runs for the fourth wicket against J & K is the highest for any team this season. Orissa's confidence is perhaps best illustrated by the fact that they were unperturbed by MP's imposing first innings total of 437. Methodically, they replied with 479.

Given this track record, Orissa can afford to be smug about their chances against Baroda, particularly since the visitors did not have the services of Das and Mohanty against MP. They were on national duty in the third Test against Australia at Chennai. But Das is under no illusions on the eve of the game. Baroda may not have the services of Zaheer Khan, on duty with the national team in the decisive ODI at Goa. But the hosts still have two India players in Jacob Martin and Nayan Mongia. Moreover, the pitch at the Gujarat State Fertilizer Corporation ground has always been a batsman's paradise and Das is aware that the Orissa batsmen cannot afford to fail against opponents, boasting a strong batting line-up.

Predictably enough, Baroda have made no changes from the team that beat Tamil Nadu last week. "Baroda is going into the match with a clear edge over the visitors," says Baroda coach, Vinit Wadker, adding that the return of Das and Mohanty made no difference to the Baroda team. Well might he be confident for Baroda has performed commendably this season. The semifinal is on their home ground, on which they have already defeated Bengal by 222 runs and Tamil Nadu by 160 runs in the two previous rounds.

Baroda's batting has been their main strength but the bowling too has been impressive. In Satyajit Parab and Connor Williams they have a formidable opening pair who scored 379 and 386 runs in the league stage. Tushar Arothe (203), Jacob Martin (246) and Himanshu Jadhav (248) were the other main run getters. In the knock out rounds, Parab and Martin have both got hundreds while Ajit Bhoite has displayed his all round skills in abundant measure. In bowling, right arm medium pacer Rakesh Patel, who has carried the burden in the absence of Zaheer Khan, was the highest wicket taker in the West Zone league with 21 wickets. But Baroda have been well served also by the spinners Valmik Buch and Bhoite. Nayan Mongia, besides doing an efficient job behind the stumps, has chipped in with useful knocks, notably his fighting unbeaten 61 against Tamil Nadu.

All in all, the five day match has all the makings of a classic contest. Predicting the winner will be hazardous.

© CricInfo