Less than a month ago, B. Indrajith, Washington Sundar and Vijay Gohil had worked in tandem to shine in India Red’s triumphant Duleep Trophy campaign.
Come Wednesday, however, the Tamil Nadu duo overcame the challenges posed by the left-arm spinner and other Mumbai bowlers as Tamil Nadu staged its second fightback in as many days during their Ranji Trophy Group C encounter.
Thanks to Indrajith (105 n.o., 173b, 12x4) and Washington’s (69, 91b, 11x4, 1x6) 157-run partnership for the fifth wicket, Tamil Nadu was in the hunt of Mumbai’s first innings total of 374.
Despite losing Washington to a shortish-ball ploy by Dhawal Kulkarni late in the day, Tamil Nadu ended the day at 239 for five at the MCA Sharad Pawar Cricket Academy ground.
While Indrajith and Gohil were involved in a mammoth 10th-wicket partnership in a league match in Duleep, Washington and Gohil combined with the ball in the final to seal the title for India Red. On Wednesday, however, when Washington joined Indrajith, Gohil was looking good with the ball.
Having accounted for Test opener M. Vijay in his first over with a loopy delivery that kissed the edge with Aditya Tare completing a catch on the third attempt behind the wickets, Gohil had dismissed Vijay Shankar soon after lunch to leave Tamil Nadu reeling at 69 for four. However, Indrajith and Washington seemed to be on top of the game right away.
With the left-hander taking a little time to get going, Indrajith took charge and played a few delightful cover drives and straight drives. Washington soon got into his element against the spin of Gohil and his left-arm partner Aditya Dhumal.
The batsmen rotated the strike well, forcing both the young spinners off the track while bowling to a left-right combination.
To add to Mumbai’s worries, Akash Parkar had an off day with the ball. Apart from getting one to jag back in after pitching to leave Abhinav Mukund without an answer in the morning session, the Mumbai bowler struggled with his line and length all through the day. However, it was his unbeaten 33 in the morning that enabled Mumbai’s last three wickets to add 60 crucial runs in the morning.
The scores: Mumbai — 1st innings: Prithvi Shaw c Indrajith b Ashwin 123, Akhil Herwadkar lbw b Yo Mahesh 0, Shreyas Iyer c Jagadeesan b Shankar 57, Suryakumar Yadav lbw b Yo Mahesh 39, Siddhesh Lad c Yo Mahesh b Ashwin 18, Aditya Tare c Jagadeesan b Shankar 53, Abhishek Nayar c Vijay b Shankar 20, Vijay Gohil c Vignesh b Shankar 2, Akash Parkar (not out) 33, Dhawal Kulkarni c Ashwin b Rahil 5, Aditya Dhumal b Ashwin 13; Extras (nb-1, w-2, b-4, lb-4): 11; Total (in 103.1 overs): 374.
Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-106, 3-169, 4-220, 5-245, 6-308, 7-314, 8-322, 9-339.
Tamil Nadu bowling: K. Vignesh 12-0-53-0, Yo Mahesh 15-2-61-2, Rahil Shah 28-3-105-1, R. Ashwin 30.1-5-78-3, Vijay Shankar 14-4-52-4, Washington Sundar 4-0-17-0.
Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: Abhinav Mukund b Parkar 9, M. Vijay c Tare b Gohil 11, Kaushik Gandhi b Nayar 6, B. Indrajith (batting) 105, Vijay Shankar st Tare b Gohil 18, M.S. Washington Sundar c Yadav b Kulkarni 69, R. Ashwin (batting) 8; Extras (nb-2, w-2, b-4, lb-5): 13; Total (for five wkts. in 65 overs): 239.
Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-32, 3-34, 4-69, 5-226.
Mumbai bowling: Dhawal Kulkarni 15-4-35-1, Akash Parkar 9-0-47-1, Abhishek Nayar 15-4-45-1, Vijay Gohil 18-1-58-2, Aditya Dhumal 8-1-45-0.
