Cuttack: In happy moments for cricket fans in Odisha, the State Ranji team has entered the quarter-finals after a draw with Jharkhand in Elite Group C match of Ranji Trophy on Saturday.
Odisha will face Bengal in Quarters.
Two teams from Elite Group C—-Odisha and Jammu & Kashmir have entered into the quarter-finals.
Odisha has been able to snatch a draw against Jharkhand to enter the Quarters at the Barabati Stadium here on Saturday.
The home team declared their second innings at 187/1 after taking a lead of 80-run.
Debasish Samantray, who scored 156 in the first innings, was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Out of the nine matches played, Odisha won five – against Chhattisgarh, Services, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Assam, drawn two – against Tripura and Jharkhand, and lost two – against Maharashtra and Jammu and Kashmir.
Group A and B wrap: Gujarat, Saurashtra and Andhra had already qualified before the last set of games started.
Gujarat beat Andhra in the last game to top Elite Groups A and B, with 35 points. Bengal and Karnataka followed, beating Punjab and Baroda respectively.
Saurashtra gained three points in their last game, getting the first-innings lead against Tamil Nadu to finish fourth from Groups A and B while Andhra went through despite losing their game to Gujarat.
Group C wrap: J & K and Odisha went through from Group C.
J&K lost their last group game to Haryana by two wickets but still managed to top the group with 39 points. Odisha followed with 38, getting the first-innings lead against Jharkhand. Haryana and Services narrowly missed out with 36 points each. Services had a chance to qualify, but Chattisgarh held on to make 586/3 in their second innings to hold on for a draw, denying Services a win.
Plate Group: Goa had beaten Mizoram with a bonus point to qualify from the Plate Group.