Abhinav Mukund’s unbeaten 110 put Tamil Nadu in a commanding position at the end of day two of its Ranji Trophy Group-A match against Jammu & Kashmir at the NPR College grounds here on Monday.
Tamil Nadu was 199 for one at stumps — an overall lead of 321 runs after bowling J&K out for 132 in its first innings.
Abhinav Mukund was at his fluent best on what was a difficult wicket to bat on. The pitch was still offering considerable turn and bounce as Tamil Nadu began its second innings already ahead by 122.
He started the innings on a sedate note, rotating the strike and doing it in singles.
Along with Kaushik Gandhi, Abhinav put on 69 for the first wicket before the former was caught at gully.
Baba Aparajith then joined Abhinav, and with the left-right combination seemingly unsettling the J&K bowlers, the duo played some shots.
Runs were coming in at four an over right through out the second innings on a turning pitch without the batsmen taking any risks.
Abhinav got to his hundred with a boundary to fine-leg off the inside edge against Samiullah Beigh.
Aparajith too brought up his half century towards the end of the day as they put on 130 runs in the unfinished second-wicket stand.
“I went in with a positive intent. I think it is my fastest hundred,” said Abhinav.
“The wicket is difficult to drive on. It is still offering a lot of help to the spinners. We are looking at a target of 450-500,” he said.
Earlier in the day, J&K folded up tamely.
Ian Dev Singh played across the line to Rahil Shah, and was adjudged leg before, and Bandeep Singh nicked to Dinesh Karthik at first slip.
Captain Parveez Rasool fell attempting a reverse sweep off R. Malolan. The umpire, after initially giving the decision, referred it to the third umpire (the match referee here), who adjudged him out caught.
Malolan then picked off Waseem Raza and Obaid Haroon off consecutive deliveries.
Only Hardeep Singh and Beigh offered some resistance with a partnership of 46 for the ninth wicket before the visitors were bowled out for 132 at the stroke of lunch.
The scores: Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 254.
Jammu & Kashmir — 1st innings: Shubham Khajuria c Kaushik Gandhi b Aushik Srinivas 8, Adil Rishi c Aushik Srinivas b Rahil Shah 3, Bandeep Singh c Dinesh Karthik b Rahil Shah 15, Manik Gupta b Malolan Rangarajan 10, Ian Dev Singh lbw Rahil Shah 6, Parveez Rasool c Abhinav Mukund b Malolan Rangarajan 14, Waseem Raza b Malolan Rangarajan 7, Hardeep Singh n.o. 35, Obaid Haroon c Abhinav Mukund b Malolan Rangarajan 0, Samiullah Beigh c R. Prasanna b Rahil Shah 18, Umar Nazir c Malolan Rangarajan b Aushik Srinivas 4, Extras (b-12): 12; Total (in 54.2 overs): 132.
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-15, 3-28, 4-45, 5-48, 6-66, 7-73, 8-73, 9-119.
Tamil Nadu bowling: L. Balaji 3-1-8-0, Rahil Shah 22-5-61-4, Aushik Srinivas 11.2-5-16-2, Malolan Rangarajan 18-4-35-4.
Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: Kaushik Gandhi c Bandeep Singh b Samiullah Beigh 28, Abhinav Mukund (batting) 110, B. Aparajith (batting) 53, Extras (b-6, nb-1, w-1): 8; Total (for one wicket in 49 overs): 199.
Fall of wickets: 1-69.
Jammu & Kashmir bowling: Parveez Rasool 15-1-48-0, Waseem Raza 12-1-53-0, Samiullah Beigh 10-1-39-1, Manik Gupta 5-0-28-0, Umar Nazir 7-1-25-0.
