Ranji Trophy: Natraj creates history as Odisha declare at 529 for 6 against Haryana

Lahli: A brilliant unbeaten 255 by captain Natraj Behera helped Odisha pile up a massive total of 529 for 6 in their first innings against Haryana on the second day of their Group A Ranji Trophy match at Chaudhry Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium at Lahli on Monday.

Resuming at 280 for one, Odisha piled up 249 more runs before declraing their innings after facing 163 overs.

Behera, who remained not out at 143, went on to score 255, his highest score, from 453 balls including 19 boundaries and four sixes.

With this, Behera has scored eight centuries including two double centuries from 45 first class matches with a total score of 2571. He is the first cricketer of Odisha to have scored a double century away from home.

However, his partner Ranjit Singh (112) could add just three runs before being dismissed by Harshal Patel.

But Behera and Haladhar Das (93) shared 157 runs for the sixth to take Odisha forward.

Das scored his runs off 155 balls with the help of nine boundaries and three hits over the fence.

For Haryana, HV Patel and Jayant Yadav picked up two wickets each while Mohit Sharma and Yuzvendra Chahal shared one wicket each.

In reply, Haryana finished the day on 38 for no loss in 15 overs with openers Rahul Dewan and Nitin Saini batting on 26 and 12 respectively.

Brief Score:

Odisha: 529 for six declared in 163 overs (Natraj Behera 255 not out, Ranjit Singh 112, Haladhar Das 93; Harshal Patel 2/94).

Haryana: 38 for no loss in 15 overs (Rahul Dewan 26 not out, Nitin Saini 12 not out).