Rashmi Ranjan Parida, with a fine unbeaten 147, played a stellar role
in earning for Orissa an honourable draw against Tamil Nadu in their
Ranji Trophy Super League Group C match at the Barabati stadium on
Tuesday. The one drop batsman, who resumed on 11, displayed skill,
patience and stamina in batting for 7-1/2 hours as Orissa, chasing an
unlikely victory target of 442, closed at a very respectable 311 for
three.
Few would have given Orissa much chance of saving the game, given both
their shoddy batting display in the first innings and Tamil Nadu's
splendid performance in the Super League. However Orissa, who were 36
for one at stumps on Monday, put up a spirited display. First, skipper
SS Das and Parida put on 174 runs for the second wicket off 65
overs. Das was out for 83 for which he batted a shade over five hours,
faced 202 balls and hit nine fours. This was followed by a third
wicket partnership of 89 runs off 26 overs between Parida and SS Raul
(42). And finally Parida and P Mullick added 46 runs for the unbroken
fourth wicket off 10.4 overs. Tamil Nadu skipper Sarath tried eight
bowlers in all but Orissa held on comfortably. Tamil Nadu with five
points from this game still are still on top in the group with 21
points from three matches. Orissa have eleven points from three games.