Odisha bowled themselves into a commanding position by skittling out Saurashtra for 152 in their second innings and were now only 155 runs away from an outright win with eight wickets in hand.
Saurasthra were 64 for six when the play began on the third day and they managed to add 88 more runs to their overnight total, setting Odisha a 283-run target.
Medium fast bowler Alok Mangaraj took three wickets but Saurashtra lower order batted with determination to add valuable runs. Overnight batsmen Jaydev Unadkat contributed 18 runs and Cheteshwar Pujara, batting at number nine, remained unbeaten on 39.
Odisha ended the day at at a comfortable 128 for two with Govinda Podder (41) and Anurag Sarangi (49) at the crease. They have added 90 runs for the unconquered third wicket so far.
Odisha lost openers Paresh Patel (14) and Girija Rout (22) when the scorecard was reading only 32 but Podder and Sarangi ensured they the side does not suffer another blow.
Brief Scores:
Saurashtra 218 and 152 all out in 66.5 overs. (Cheteshwar Pujara 39 not out, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja 24; A Mangaraj 3/51).
Odisha 88 and 128 for 2 in 45 overs. (Govinda Podder 41 batting, Anurag Sarangi 49 batting; S Trivedi 1/16).
