BHUBANESWAR, NOV 1: Nataraj Behera and Anurag Sarangi slammed half centuries as Odisha gave a strong first innings reply to Delhi by reaching 195 for four on day three of the Ranji Trophy group A match at KIIT Cricket Stadium here today.
Sarangi was unbeaten on 76 while Behera made 62 at the top to take the hosts closer to Delhi’s 311.
Resuming at the overnight score of 245 for 7, Delhi went on to add 66 runs to their total with the help of tail-ender Pulkit Narang (41 not out).
Odisha got off to a shaky start losing two wickets with just 40 on the board. Behera and Sarangi shared a 77-run stand to steady the boat.
Behera departed after scoring a 92-ball 62, which was laced with 12 boundaries, but Sarangi made sure he held fort till stumps. Sarangi who remained unbeaten at 76, was patient in his 182-ball vigil, collecting 11 fours in the process.
Odisha opener Rajesh Dhuper scored 14 and Govinda Podder contributed just 3 runs before both the batsmen losing their wickets to Delhi left arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan, who claimed two wickets for 30 runs in 14 overs.
Brief Scores: Delhi 1st Innings: 311 in 136.1 overs (Milind Kumar 59, Dhruv Shorey 42, Gautam Gambhir 41, Pukit Narang 41 not out; S Pradhan 4/119) vs Odisha 195/4 in 67 overs (Natraj Behera 62, Anurag Sarangi 76 batting; Pradeep Sangwan 2/30).
