Ahmedabad: Odisha survived some anxious moments late on the final day before ensuring a well-earned draw in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D opener against Goa on Sunday.
Odisha pocketed three points from the match by virtue of their 8-run first-innings lead, while Goa got a solitary point.
Set a victory target of 387, Odisha batsmen fought hard on the final day to finish at 239 for 7.
Opener Shantanu Mishra scored a century and wicketkeeper-batsman Rajesh Dhuper hit his second half-century of the game to deny Goa victory.
Resuming at 22 for no loss, Odisha lost four wickets in the first session including those of skipper Subhranshu Senapati and Govinda Poddar.
At 108 for 4, Odisha looked down the barrel and stared at possible defeat. It was then that Dhuper joined Shantanu, and the two put their heads down and applied themselves to frustrate Goa’s bowlers.
They batted together for 55 overs, adding 119 runs for the fifth wicket. Shantanu spent seven hours at the crease to compile a match-saving 103 before being run out, while Man-of-the-Match Dhuper also batted with great patience to make 52.
Dhuper’s dismissal triggered a mini collapse as Goa captured three wickets in the space of eight overs. But tailenders Debabrata Pradhan and Basant Mohanty safely negotiated the final three-and-a-half overs to eke out a draw.
Scores: Goa 181 & 394/5 declared. Odisha 189 & 239/7.
Result: Match drawn.
Points: Odisha 3, Goa 1.
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