Natraj Behera creates history for Odisha

Playing for Odisha against Haryana at Chaudhury Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium, Lahli, Natraj Behera, with his 255 not out, made his way into record books. Though SS Das’ 300 not out against Jammu & Kashmir at Cuttack, 2006-07 remains the highest score in the history of Odisha, Behera has registered the highest score by an Odisha batsman away from home and the second-highest score in their history. Behera also became the second batsman to score a 250 for Odisha (Das was the only one before him, and he had two to his name). In fact, Behera’s 255 not out is also the only away double-hundred scored by an Odisha batsman. All others have been scored at Cuttack (5), Baripada (3), or Rourkela (2).

The 255 not out is Behera’s highest score, and his second double-hundred. Barring Pravanjan Mullick (3) and Das (2, both in excess of 250), Behera is the only Odisha batsman to score 2 double-hundreds. In all, there have been 11 double-hundreds scored by Odisha batsmen. The list is below:

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Despite his two double-hundreds, Behera averaged a mere 33.82 with 7 hundreds before this match across a 7-year career. One can only hope the number gets better with time. After all, he is a mere 27.