Vizianagaram: Former skipper Biplab Samantray played responsibly to hit half centuries in both the innings to rescue Orissa from the jaws of defeat against Andhra Pradesh on the final day of their Group C Ranji Trophy encounter here Friday. The hosts who had asked Orissa to follow on after dismissing them for 391 in the first innings got three points from the game while the visitors got one.
Biplab scored 72 in the first innings and then more importantly got an unbeaten 62 (112b, 8×4, 2×6) in the second innings to save the game for Orissa. Coming to bat with the score on 43 for three Biplab stood tall against the Andhra bowlers as he guided the team to an honourable draw. With AP left-arm spinner Bharghav Bhatt (4/40) creating havoc, Biplab took it upon himself to thwart the opposition. Lower order batsmen Saurabh Rawat (13, 34b), Subham Nayak (12, 34b) and Basant Mohanty (11, 36b) helped him in his cause.
Earlier Orissa resuming at their overnight score of 294 for six wickets folded at 391. Biplab (72, 220b, 7×4, 1×6) batted with a lot of patience, but ran out of partners. Basant Mohanty (23) and Suryakanta Pradhan (28) played fighting knocks, but to no avail. Bhatt (4/77) was again the best bowler.
Orissa will face Mumbai, November 1, in their next game at the KIIT ground in Bhubaneswar.
Brief scores: Andhra Pradesh 584/4; Orissa 391 (Biplab Samantray 72; Bhargav Bhatt 4/77) and 152/7 (Biplab Samantaray 62 n o, Bhargav Bhatt 4/40). Match drawn. AP 3 points, Orissa 1.
Other Group C matches
At Mumbai: Mumbai 374 and 371/5 (Shreyas Iyer 138, Akhil Herwadkar 132); Tamil Nadu 450. Match drawn. Tamil Nadu 3 points, Mumbai 1
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