The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Tamil Nadu makes a strong reply

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 05, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Tamil Nadu makes a strong reply

Special Correspondent

— Photo: Sandeep Saxena

SOLID KNOCK: Tamil Nadu’s M. Vijay was at the forefront of Tamil Nadu’s riposte against Railways.

NEW DELHI: A strokeful knock from Murali Vijay saw Tamil Nadu make a strong reply to Railways’ first innings total of 327 on the second day of the Ranji Trophy Super League match at the Karnail Singh Stadium here on Tuesday.

At close, Tamil Nadu was 150 for two with Vijay (65) and S. Badrinath (33) in control.

Railways, resuming at 242 for four, failed to capitalise on the good work by Sanjay Bangar, who ran out of partners in compiling an unbeaten 163 (317b, 14x4, 3x6). Bangar continued in his overnight form to dominate the Tamil Nadu attack where off-spinner R. Ashwin was the pick with three wickets.

Tamil Nadu lost Abhinav Mukund cheaply to a suicidal run out, but Vijay tackled the attack with the assurance associated with his batting. He was compact when playing his shots and grew in confidence in the company of Arun Kartik.

Arun Kartik gave himself the freedom to play his strokes and revelled as Vijay gave him solid company in a partnership that fetched 83 runs at a rapid pace. It was the brightest phase of the day as the Tamil Nadu batsmen produced some quality shots in front of the wicket.

Vijay hit seven fours and a six in his 189-ball essay while Arun Kartik faced 73 balls and had seven fours to his credit before he was castled by left-arm spinner Murali Kartik.

Tamil Nadu stayed on course when Badrinath joined Vijay in an entertaining stand of 67 runs for the third wicket.

Badrinath was not averse to leaving the crease and meeting the ball with authority while Vijay matched him with a flawless show at the other end.

There was hardly a moment of discomfort for Vijay even though Badrinath was willing to chance his arm towards the end when he played lofted strokes.

The scores: Railways — 1st innings: F. Fazal st D. Kartik b Ashwin 70, V. Cheluveraj c Srinivas b Mukund 13, S. Bangar (not out) 163, T. P. Singh c M. Vijay b Ashwin 4, Y. Goud c Mukund b Suresh 14, S. Sanyal c Ashwin b Ganapathy 15, M. Rawat c Arun Kartik b Ganapathy 0, M. Suresh c D. Kartik b Suresh 9, M. Kartik lbw b Ashwin 0, K. Parida c Arun Kartik b Mukund 8, S. Gehlot lbw b Mukund 0; Extras: (b-7, lb-15, nb-4, w-5) 31; Total: (in 134.3 overs) 327.

Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-135, 3-139, 4-215, 5-274, 6-274, 7-293, 8-294, 9-327.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Balaji 25-7-62-0, Jesuraj 22-4-51-0, Ganapathy 13-5-23-2, Mukund 2.4-0-5-3, Ashwin 42-10-104-3, Srinivas 23-7-48-0, Suresh Kumar 7-1-12-2.

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: A. Mukund (run out) 0, M. Vijay (batting) 65, K.B. Arun Kartik b M. Kartik 47, S. Badrinath (batting) 33; Extras: (lb-3, nb-2) 5; Total: (for two wickets in 47 overs) 150.

Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-83.

Railways bowling: Gehlot 10-3-23-0, Bangar 10-2-32-0, Suresh 7-2-35-0, Sanyal 2-1-4-0, M. Kartik 12-2-43-1, K. Parida 6-2-10-0.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport