Dehradun: Odisha have their backs to the wall in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group A fixture against Uttarakhand.
Having conceded a massive lead of 264 runs, Odisha stuttered to 97/4 in the second innings at stumps on Day 3 at the Abhimanyu Academy ground here.
With a full day’s play left, Odisha need 167 more runs to make Uttarakhand bat a second time.
Opener Shantanu Mishra (0), skipper Subhranshu Senapati (13), the experienced Biplab Samantray (9) and the talented Subham Nayak (0) are back in the dressing room. The lone man standing is left-handed opener Anurag Sarangi, who is unbeaten on 59 which has been composed off 106 balls with 12 hits to the boundary.
The middle and late order will have to bat out of their skins along with Anurag to avoid an outright defeat and salvage a draw.
This morning, Uttarakhand captain Jiwanjot Singh resumed on 174 and went on to complete a fine double century before being dismissed for 218, which included 35 fours.
Aditya Tare helped himself to a half century as Uttarakhand posted 477 in their first innings.
Suryakant Pradhan bagged 3 for 90, and leg-spinner Abhishek Raut finished with figures of 2/33.
Brief scores: Odisha 213 and 97/4 (Anurag Sarangi batting 59; Mayank Mishra 2/29). Uttarakhand 477 (Jiwanjot Singh 218, Swapnil Singh 65, Aditya Tare 57; Suryakant Pradhan 3/90, Abhishek Raut 2/33, Subham Nayak 2/79).
Match to continue.
