Tamil Nadu scored just one run more than its first innings socre to be bowled out for 69 in its second innings, as it lost the match by 243 runs in their Group B Ranji Trophy clash against Punjab, at the NPRCET grounds here on Wednesday. Punjab thus has entered the last eight.
Tamil Nadu’s second innings was a mirror image of its first one. If it was Rajwinder Singh in the first essay, this time it was Harbhajan Singh who did the most damage picking up seven for 33 runs.
Chasing 313 to win, and with ten minutes to go for lunch, Abhinav Mukund edged Harbhajan Singh to Uday Kaul at short leg. Kousik promoted to No. 3 did not last long as Tamil Nadu went into lunch at seven for 2.
There was a spring in the stride of Harbhajan as he ran through the Tamil Nadu team after lunch.
Vijay Shankar was out to a soft dismissal offering a return catch. Dinesh Karthik got out to a sweep though he also was unhappy with the decision. B. Indrajith was snared by Yuvraj Singh at slip while his brother watched wickets tumble from the other end.
Prasanna was trapped by Harbhajan who finished with a match haul of 10 for 67. B. Aparajith being the only player to show some resistance remained unbeaten on 32.
Earlier resuming the day at 33 for one, Punjab lost Jiwanjot Singh early flicking Malolan to Aparajith at square leg. D.T. Chandrasekar struck thrice removing nightwatchman Rajwinder Singh and Mandeep Singh. Yuvraj Singh was caught behind off Malolan Rangarajan as Punjab was reduced to 76 for six.
The counter-attack by Gitansh Khera and Mayank Sidhana brought up the hundred as the lead swelled up to 238.
Umpire ward out of danger “Australian umpire John Ward who was hit on the head by B. Barainder Sran of Punjab on Tuesday is fine,” said N. Venkataraman, Secretary, Dindigul District Cricket Association.
The scores:
Punjab — 1st innings: 206.
Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 68.
Punjab — 2nd innings: Jiwanjot Singh c B. Aparajith b Malolan 14, Pargat Singh c Abhinav b Malolan 19, Rajwinder Singh b Chandrasekar 5, Uday Kaul st Dinesh Karthik b Chandrasekar 6, Mandeep Singh b Chandrasekar 9, Yuvraj Singh c Dinesh Karthik b Malolan 12, Mayank Sidhana c J. Kousik b Rahil Shah 16, Gitansh Khera (not out) 43, Brainder Sran c Chandrasekar b Aparajith 14, Harbhajan Singh c Vijay Shankar b Rangarajan 16, Sarbjit Ladda c Rahil Shah b Chandrasekar 4; Extras (b-8, lb 3, penalty 5) 16; Total (in 42.5 overs) 174.
Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-40, 3-52, 4-55, 5-72, 6-76, 7-110, 8-147, 9-169.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Rahil Shah 7-0-41-1, D. T. Chandrasekar 15.5-2-56-4, Malolan Rangarajan 17-3-53-4, B. Aparajith 3-0-8-1.
Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: Vijay Shankar c & b Harbhajan 7, Abhinav Mukund c Kaul b Harbhajan 0, J Kousik c Mandeep b Harbhajan 0, B. Aparajith (not out) 32, Dinesh Karthik c Mandeep b Harbhajan 0, R. Sathish c Sidhana b Harbhajan 14, B. Indrajith c Yuvraj b Ladda 0, R. Prasanna lbw Singh 5, Malolan Rangarajan c Rajwinder b Harbhajan 6, Rahil Shah b Ladda 0, D.T. Chandrasekar b Ladda 0; Extras: (b-5) 5; Total (in 22 overs) 69.
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-1, 3-26, 4-32, 5-48, 6-48, 7-63, 8-69, 9-69.
Punjab bowling: Harbhajan Singh 11-0-37-7, Rajwinder Singh 7-4-11-0, Sarbjit Ladda 4-1-16-3.