The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Tamil Nadu in a spot of bother

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Tuesday, Nov 06, 2007
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Tamil Nadu in a spot of bother

Special Correspondent

Maharashtra well poised to push for the innings lead

— Photo: R. Ragu

SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT: R. Ashwin’s six-wicket haul provided some solace for the home team on an otherwise disappointing day.

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu finds itself in a prickly position after the third day of its Ranji Trophy super league match against Maharashtra here at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

Having conceded 430 runs — R. Ashwin’s six for 133 offering Tamil Nadu some succour — the host side slumped to 58 for three in reply on Monday. Dinesh Karthik (13) and night-watchman C. Ganapathy (0) held a vibrant Maharashtra off before the umpires offered the batsmen light.

With rain allowing only 3.2 overs on Sunday, the second day, the match has transformed into a contest for the first-innings lead, and the resultant three points. The Tamil Nadu batsmen will have to draw on their reserves of skill and application on Tuesday to turn things around — they need look no further than Maharashtra’s eighth-wicket pair for inspiration.

Crucial stand

Salil Agarkar (33) and Ashish Suryawanshi (46) came together at a crucial stage for Maharashtra and wrested the game from Tamil Nadu. With the visiting side at 345 for seven, Dinesh Karthik, who captained in the absence of S. Badrinath (stomach bug), will have envisioned bowling Maharashtra out for fewer than 380.

But, Agarkar and Suryawanshi added a gritty, industrious 82 to undo much of Tamil Nadu’s good work in the first session. The bowling effort on Monday morning was disciplined on a track that had slowed considerably, having been under the covers for most of Sunday.

Ganapathy broke through by having Yogesh Takawale (79, 119b, 12x4, 1x6) caught one-handed by Karthik behind the stumps. V. Yomahesh then drew an edge from the left-handed Vishal Bhilare. But, R. Prasanna, at a wide slip, couldn’t hold on after flinging himself to his right. What could have been 311 for six became 344 for five before Ashwin’s double strike (Mundhe caught at mid-wicket and Bhilare caught behind) after lunch brought Agarkar and Suryawanshi together.

Stage set

P. Amarnath’s searching yorkers caused Suryawanshi discomfort. But, with the slim, left-handed Agarkar, Suryawanshi set the stage for Wahid Sayyed and Munaf Patel.

Sayyed unearthed M. Vijay’s off-stump with a ball that cut in and caught the opener half-cocked. He then terminated Anirudha’s sparkling stay, having the dasher caught on the second attempt at slip.

But, it was Munaf who cornered attention. Looking a cut above every other bowler who strove on this strip, he was unfortunate to strike just once; he has Tuesday to make up.

The scores:

Maharashtra — 1st innings: H. Khadiwale c Prasanna b Yomahesh 126, V. More c Ganapathy b Ashwin 26, K. Jadhav c Karthik b Vasudeva Das 35, Venugopala Rao c Karthik b Ashwin 8, Y. Takawale c Karthik b Ganapathy 79, V. Bhilare c Karthik b Ashwin 40, S. Mundhe c Vasudeva Das b Ashwin 12, S. Agarkar c Vasudeva Das b Ashwin 33, A. Suryawanshi c Srinivasan b Vasudeva Das 46, Munaf Patel c Vasudeva Das b Ashwin 3, W. Sayyed (not out) 0; Extras (b-3, lb-4, nb-10, w-5): 22; Total (in 157.3 overs): 430.

Fall of wickets: 1-68, 2-142, 3-155, 4-261, 5-302, 6-344, 7-345, 8-427, 9-429.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Ganapathy 24-5-61-1, Yomahesh 30-8-81-1, Amarnath 23-3-72-0, Ashwin 50.3-9-133-6, Vasudeva Das 12-2-40-2, Badrinath 5-1-12-0, Prasanna 13-3-24-0.

Tamil Nadu – 1st innings: S. Anirudha c Venugopala b Sayyed 21, M. Vijay b Sayyed 4, R. Prasanna c Jadhav b Patel 16, D. Karthik (batting) 13, C. Ganapathy (batting) 0, Extras (nb-1, w-3): 4; Total (for three wickets, in 22 overs) 58.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-39, 3-58.

Maharashtra bowling: Munaf 7-1-15-1, Agarkar 3-1-5-0, Sayyed 6-0-25-2, Mundhe 6-1-13-0.

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