Bhubaneswar: Odisha have their backs to the wall, but are showing the stomach for a fight in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match against Baroda.
Baroda, having grabbed a lead of 173 runs, scored a at a rapid rate in their second innings to declare at 258/4.
Set a victory target of 432 runs, Odisha openers Shantanu Mishra and Anurag Sarangi got off to a cautious and solid start at Vadodara’s Motibag Stadium.
Sarangi fell for a well-compiled 56 in the closing minutes of play as Odisha went to stumps on Day 3 at 103/1.
Skipper Shantanu is unbeaten on a gritty 41, having already faced 117 deliveries. All other specialist batsmen will have to show similar application if Odisha are to knock off 329 more runs required for victory, or bat out the entire day to force a draw.
Baroda’s second innings was powered by Shashwat Rawat (102) and skipper Vishnu Solanki (79), who added 139 runs for the third wicket at more than 4.5 runs an over.
Medium-pacer Debabrata Pradhan was Odisha’s standout bowler, registering figures of 2/20 in 13 overs.
Brief scores
Baroda 351 & 258/4 declared (Shashwat Rawat 102, Vishnu Solanki 79; Debabrata Pradhan 2/20).
Odisha 178 & 103/1 (Anurag Sarangi 56, Shantanu Mishra 41*).
Match to continue on final day.