Rajat Patidar (81, 131b, 12x4, 1x6) and Shubham Sharma (41, 79b, 5x4) were involved in an unbroken 105-run second-wicket stand as Madhya Pradesh ended the third day's play against Tamil Nadu on 142 for one in its second innings — a lead of 80 runs — in the Group C Ranji Trophy match here on Sunday.
Even as Tamil Nadu managed a first innings lead of 62 runs, its progress to the quarterfinals was contingent on an outright win, which looks impossible now.
The only scare for the partnership was when Patidar mistimed a pull off Vijay Shankar. The top-edge, a six, was just out of reach of the fielder at fine-leg.
The highlights of the union: Patidar's consecutive fours off left-arm spinner Sai Kishore — a deft touch to the third man boundary, a square cut, a sweep for four between deep square-leg and deep midwicket off off-spinner Malolan Rangarajan; Shubham Sharma's flick off Vijay Shankar to deep midwicket for four.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu ended its first innings on 326, a lead of 62 runs. N. Jagadeesan departed after securing his second First Class century (101, 150b, 13x4), bowled by Avesh Khan. The ball was through his bat and pad, a tame dismissal.
V. Yo Mahesh got to his second First Class century and remained unbeaten on 103 (214b, 7x4, 5x6).
In an over by Ishwar Pandey, Yo Mahesh had to sway and evade a ball that went above his shoulder, and jump and fend off one from just above his hips on the leg-side. This, and some dismissals until then, seemed to indicate the wicket had stayed bound and firm for the bowlers to get sustained and effective bounce.
M. Mohammed, who had joined Yo Mahesh then, looked always to attack. He launched into a ball on the off-side for a six to deep extra cover off Pandey.
Spin was introduced after 21 overs. Off-spinner Mihir Hirwani and left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma shared a spell. The batsmen seemed to manage fine. They even attacked. After Mohammed swept Sharma to long-leg for four, Yo Mahesh reverse swept Hirwani for four in the next over.
Later, Yo Mahesh hit a six to deep midwicket and a four to cow corner off Hirwani in one over. Mohammed perished in the slips to a rash cut shot off Hirwani. Tamil Nadu was 300 for eight at lunch. It was bowled out soon after.
The scores: Madhya Pradesh — 1st innings: 264
Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: N. Jagadeesan b Avesh Khan 101, Abhinav Mukund b Datey 5, Vijay Shankar c Ankit b Datey 0, B. Indrajith c Dane b Pandey 25, B. Aparajith b Pandey 0, Washington Sundar c Bundela b Datey 9, Malolan Rangarajan lbw b Pandey 8, V. Yo Mahesh (not out) 103, M. Mohammed c Bundela b Hirwani 43, R. Sai Kishore st Dane b Hirwani 14, K. Vignesh lbw b Ankit 4; Extras (b-4, lb-6, nb-3, w-1): 14; Total (in 105.4 overs): 326.
Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-19, 3-38, 4-54, 5-71, 6-76, 7-203, 8-295, 9-321, 10-326.
Madhya Pradesh bowling: Ishwar Pandey 26-11-67-3, Puneet Datey 24-7-55-3, Avesh Khan 23-4-63-1, Harpreet Singh 6-2-10-0, Ankit Sharma 14.4-0-79-1, Mihir Hirwani 12-1-42-2.
Madhya Pradesh — 2nd innings: Aditya Shrivastava c Aparajith b Vignesh 16, Rajat Patidar (batting) 81, Shubham Sharma (batting) 41; Extras (lb-1, nb-2, w-1): 4; Total (for one wicket in 40 overs): 142.
Fall of wickets: 1-37.
Tamil Nadu bowling: M. Mohammed 6-2-20-0, Vijay Shankar 9-4-42-0, K. Vignesh 9-2-21-1, R. Sai Kishore 9-1-32-0, Malolan Rangarajan 4-0-18-0, Washington Sundar 3-0-8-0.
