TN gains crucial lead

Dense fog causes repeated interruption

Tamil Nadu players R. Prasanna, J. Kaushik, K.B. Arun Karthick and Aushik Srinivas await the start of play. Photo: R.V. Moorthy

Much like the weather at the Jamia Millia Sports Complex on Monday, the prospect of either Tamil Nadu or Railways finishing this Ranji Trophy Group B match with a victory seems hazy. Only 23 overs were bowled on a day of heavy fog.

The 119 minutes of action witnessed here, though, was enough for TN to seal a 77-run first innings lead. Railways had finished day two on 152 for eight.

Karn Sharma added only a run to his overnight score before lobbing a L. Balaji delivery to B. Aparajith at short midwicket.

The visiting side’s skipper took his fourth wicket soon after as Ranjit Mali was beaten by a length delivery after surviving some short-pitched stuff. A delivery before the dismissal, a fielder was placed at short-leg. He proved to be an effective decoy.

No urgency

If one expected TN to seek quick runs in its second innings, no such urgency arrived. Only 10 runs came off the 11 overs bowled. More importantly, Abhinav Mukund was dismissed after feebly pushing his bat forward to nick one to the ’keeper.

The repeated interruptions in no way helped the momentum of play, forcing K.B. Arun Karthick and S. Badrinath to eschew offensive action.

Result-driven context

It seems TN will be forced to seek contentment in three points, for the elements are not expected to mend their ways.

The final day’s play may still acquire a result-driven context. But with haze leading to poor visibility, it’s difficult to see too far ahead, literally and metaphorically.

The scores:

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 246.

Railways — 1st innings: Shivkant Shukla c Badrinath b Mohammed 25, Jonathan Rongsen c Dinesh Karthik b Balaji 0, Nitin Bhille b Kaushik 13, Harshad Rawle lbw b Mohammed 3, Arindam Ghosh b Kaushik 21, Mahesh Rawat b Balaji 8, Karn Sharma c Aparajith b Balaji 51, Murali Kartik c Mukund b Kaushik 6, Anureet Singh c and b Malolan 8, Krishnakant Upadhyay (not out) 17, Ranjit Mali b Balaji 11; Extras (lb-1, w-1, nb-4): 6; Total (in 75 overs): 169.

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-26, 3-45, 4-54, 5-65, 6-82, 7-88, 8-101, 9-157.

Tamil Nadu bowling: J. Kaushik 25-14-45-3, L. Balaji 19-8-31-4, M. Mohammed 13-4-39-2, Malolan Rangarajan 11-4-29-1, Aushik Srinivas 7-2-24-0.

Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: K.B. Arun Karthik (not out) 3, Abhinav Mukund c Rawat b Anureet 2, S. Badrinath (not out) 4; Extras (lb-1): 1; Total (for one wkt. in 11 overs): 10.

Fall of wicket: 1-3.

Railways bowling: Anureet Singh 6-4-3-1, Ranjit Mali 5-3-6-0.