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Bhubaneswar, Nov 16: Natraj Behera (255 n o, 686m, 453b, 19×4, 4×6) got his second first class double hundred and his career-best knock as Orissa declared their first innings closed at 529 for six on day two of their four-day Ranji Trophy Group A match against Haryana at Rohtak, Monday. In reply at stumps, the hosts were 38 without loss in 15 overs on a pitch which still has nothing to offer for the bowlers.
But more of that later as Natraj, once more rediscovered the form that made him the country’s most promising youngster in 2012. But since then he lacked consistency which he definitely made up with a marathon effort at the Bansi Lal Stadium.
When he started his innings, Sunday or for that matter for some parts of his innings on the opening day, he appeared a little edgy. He survived three chances to remain unbeaten on 143. But Monday was a different proposition altogether as he batted with authority and a lot of class.
He was cheeky also, reverse sweeping Jayant Yadav to bring up his double hundred. He was calm also, when Orissa lost Govind Poddar (28), Anurag Sarangi (0) and Pratik Das (0) to slump from 362 for two to 372 for five in the space of 17 deliveries. But he remained unperturbed as he kept the runs flowing with some superb drives within the ‘V’ as well as running the singles and twos judiciously.
Natraj found an able ally in glovesman Haladhar Das (93, 155b, 9×4, 3×6) and the two put on 154 runs for the sixth wicket to take the visitors to a position of command. With Haladhar in an aggressive mood, Natraj was ever-ready to play the second fiddle, once more demonstrating his maturity.
Haryana threw everything they could at Natraj, but it was all in vain. Realising that he was comfortable against spin, their pacers tried reverse swing, bouncers, slower balls and every other variation they had, but nothing stopped Natraj. Ultimately it was fatigue that stopped him from continuing and more importantly Natraj the captain took precedence over Natraj the batsman which prompted him to declare even though a triple century was there for the taking. But then such decisions are rarely seen these days.
Brief scores
Orissa 529 for 6 declared (Natraj Behera 255 n o, Haladhar Das 93); Haryana 38 without loss. Match to continue.
Other Group A games
(At Pune): Bengal 528/8 (SD Chaterjee 147, AA Gani 59, PP Shaw 57, SP Goswami 51; CG Khurana 4/141) vs Maharashtra. Match to continue.
(At Guwahati): Delhi 149 & 101/4 (Unmukt Chand 44; G Sharma 2/6); Assam 157/9 (KB Arun Karthik 81; Manan Sharma 4/41). Match to continue.
(At Nagpur): Rajasthan 216; Vidarbha 202/6 (AA Sarwate 42 batting, FY Fazal 40; A Choudhary 2/34). Match to continue.