Natraj ensures draw

Press Trust of India

Pune, December 10: The Orissa-Maharashtra Ranji Trophy tie petered out to a tame draw here Wednesday. Facing a first innings deficit of 60 runs, Orissa scored 178 runs for the loss of five wickets with Natraj Behera (74, 189b, 8×4) getting his second half century of the game. Orissa thus finished with one point from the tie, while the hosts got three.

A draw was on the cards with both sides taking three days to complete their first innings. Orissa suffered an early jitter when they lost Govind Poddar, But all the other batters, even though they did not get substantial scores occupied the crease for long periods to ensure a drab draw.

Niranjan Behera (29, 59b, 7×4), Anurag Sarangi (19, 71b, 3×4) and Biplab Samantray (31, 86b, 2×4) ensured that Orissa finished with a point. Natraj was dismissed in the 66^th over of the innings, but by that time he had saved the match.

Brief scores: Orissa 311 and 178 for 5 (Natraj Behera 74, AA Darekar 3/32); Maharashtra 371. Match drawn.