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Vijay’s century sees TN take first innings lead

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. Pichumani

WELL-PACED KNOCK: M. Vijay complemented flair with application to make his runs.

Chennai: M. Vijay is gaining in experience and growing in maturity. He complemented flair with application at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Thursday. It was a captain’s innings.

Vijay’s 140 (212b, 8x4, 5x6) was chiefly instrumental in the TNCA XI, pursuing 358 for the lead, gaining a 15-run advantage in the first innings on the second day of the Buchi Babu tournament final against Saurashtra XI.

The skipper’s hundred and his 150-run third-wicket partnership with the young N. Einstein (84, 122b, 4x4) in 33 overs guided the host to 372 for six and leave the match tantalisingly poised. In what could be a pulsating final day, each side will face a maximum of 40 overs in the second innings.

Nice feeling

“It was a nice feeling to put my team in a good position,” said Vijay at the end of another scorching day.

He spoke about the ball not coming on to the bat on a sluggish surface and revealed how he and Einstein decided to test an “ordinary” Saurashtra fielding side with singles.

Vijay ran 53 singles and Einstein, 51. The feature of Vijay’s batting is the time he has to play the ball — the right-hander does pick the length early.

He invariably strikes the ball with the sweet portion of the willow, and does so with balance off either foot.

The opener also uses the sweep to disrupt the line of the spinners. It was a well-constructed innings from Vijay, eventually taken at point off left-arm spinner Rakesh Dhruv. Before a run-out ended his tenure, Einstein batted with common sense.

He is a lithe athlete and an intelligent batsman with strokes on both sides of the wicket.

There was a useful contribution from Ra. Aravind (37) — the opening partnership was worth 76 runs in 22.3 overs — while K.H. Gopinath (35 not out off 32 balls) and R. Ashwin (unbeaten 19 off nine deliveries) blitzed down the order to power the home side past the Saurashtra XI score in the last stretch of the innings.

For Saurashtra XI, skipper Dhruv was unafraid to give the ball air from a high-arm action in the initial phase.

However, as the partnership between Vijay and Einstein developed, he resorted to a defensive line from over-the-wicket with six fielders on the on-side.

Ravindra Jadeja, a left-arm spinner with a flatter trajectory and a useful arm-ball, too bowled from over-the-wicket with a packed leg-side field.

“We milked them for singles and rotated the strike,” said Vijay revealing how the ploy was countered.

There was an exceptional stroke as well from Einstein, who created the room on the leg-side with sparkling footwork and essayed an inside-out off-drive off Jadeja.

It should be a race to the finish line on Friday.

The scores (final): Sourashtra XI 357 for nine in 90 overs vs TNCA XI 372 for six in 90 overs (M. Vijay 140, N. Einstein 84).

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