BHUBANESWAR 02-Jan-2014 128
Odisha ended their 2013-14 Ranji Trophy campaign with a draw against Haryana in the eighth and last Group-A match at here at East Coast Railway Stadium today. Led by Biplab Samantaray, Odisha retained their place in the group and finished sixth with 12 points. They won one match against Jharkhand, drew four against Vidarbha, Delhi, Mumbai, Haryana and lost three against Punjab, Karnataka and Gujarat.
In the match against Haryana, Odisha rode on opener Girija Rout’s career best knock of 94 (227 balls, 12x4) to make modest total of 242 after they elected to bat. Rout’s 102-run partnership for the second wicket with Niranjan Behera took the home team to a healthy 173 for three. But all the good work went in vain as they lost their next six wickets in space of 35 runs.
In reply, Haryana declared at 626 for four to take massive lead of 384 runs. Opener Rahul Dewan slammed a majestic 273 to be adjudged the man of the match. Among other successful Haryana batsmen, Sachin Rana (157) and Nitin Saini (102 not out) scored a century each, while Avi Barot made 60.
