Kaushik Gandhi slammed a century but could not help Tamil Nadu get past India Red in the Paytm Prof D.B. Deodhar Trophy limited-overs tournament on Sunday.
With this 32-run triumph, Red has sealed its spot in the final.
Chasing 318, Tamil Nadu was in the hunt thanks to the heroics of Kaushik (124) before he got out in the 47th over to left-arm medium-pacer Chama Milind.
N. Jagadeesan (64) essayed some brilliant strokes — swinging left-arm spinner Akshay Karnewar for two huge sixes and pulling pacer Dhawal Kulkarni with ease.
Just when he looked set for a big knock, Jagadeesan was bowled trying to sweep left-arm spinner Axar Patel in the 26th over.
Earlier, Manish Pandey cracked a splendid, stroke-filled 104 to help India Red to a challenging total.
Opener Shikhar Dhawan hit a half-century after Parthiv Patel went cheaply.
India Red scored 68 for one in the first 15 overs. But, later, Dhawan opened up to play some big strokes.
Left-arm spinner R. Sai Kishore, after being hit for a huge six by Dhawan, had the last laugh, bowling the left-hander. In his next over, Sai Kishore sent back Govinda Poddar.
Then, Pandey and Axar put on 98 for the fifth wicket.
For Tamil Nadu, Sai Kishore was the most impressive finishing with four wickets.
The scores: India Red: Parthiv Patel c Karthik b Mohammed 11, Shikhar Dhawan b Sai Kishore 50, Manish Pandey c Sundar b Sai Kishore 104, Govinda Poddar b Sai Kishore 7, Ishank Jaggi c Rahil b Dhas 12, Axar Patel c Karthik b Sai Kishore 51, Gurkeerat Mann c Shankar b Washington Sundar 25, Akshay Karnewar (not out) 28, Dhawal Kulkarni run out 11; Extras: (w-13, b-1, lb-3) 17; Total (for eight wickets in 50 overs): 316.
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-100, 3-110, 4-138, 5-236, 6-259, 7-292, 8-316.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Vijay Shankar 9-0-57-0, M. Mohammad 7-0-45-1, Washington Sundar 9-0-61-1, Rahil Shah 10-1-55-0, R. Sai Kishore 10-1-60-4, Antony Dhas 5-0-34-1.
Tamil Nadu: Kaushik Gandhi c Pandey b Milind 124, Ganga Sridhar Raju c Karnewar b Kulkarni 10, N. Jagadeesan b Axar 64, Dinesh Karthik c Karnewar b Axar 28, Vijay Shankar c Dhawan b Khejroliya 27, Washington Sundar c Kulkarni b Khejroliya 2, M. Mohammad b Axar 2, B. Indrajith b Kulkarni 1, Antony Dhas c sub (Bhatia) b Kulkarni 8, R. Sai Kishore (not out) 2, Rahil Shah b Milind 1; Extras (nb-1, w-13, lb-1): 15; Total (in 48.4 overs): 284.
Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-146, 3-185, 4-244, 5-253, 6-259, 7-266, 8-277, 9-281.
India Red bowling: Dhawal Kulkarni 9-0-45-3, Kulwant Khejroliya 10-0-62-2, Chama Milind 9.4-1-42-2, Axar Patel 10-0-53-3, Akshay Karnewar 10-0-81-0.
India Red won by 32 runs .
