N. Jagadeesan scored a fine century (114 n.o., 112b, 12x4, 2x6) as Tamil Nadu recorded a thumping nine-wicket victory over Andhra in a Vijay Hazare Trophy Group-C match at the Alur Grounds.
After rain had forced the abandonment of all four matches on Saturday, Sunday opened to moderately sunlit skies. The contest was still curtailed to a 47-overs-a-side affair because of a wet outfield, but for large tracts of the day, Tamil Nadu’s players held sway.
Tamil Nadu’s B. Sai Sudharsan during his 73-run knock against Andhra in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Alur Grounds in Bengaluru on 13/11/ 2022. | Photo Credit: N. SUDARSHAN
Chasing a moderate 206-run target, B. Sai Sudharsan (73, 75b, 7x4, 2x6) and Jagadeesan put on 177 runs for the opening wicket. The two were workmanlike, adroit, and dexterous, picking gaps all over the ground. Their running between the wickets stood out, but it also proved their undoing when a hurried two led to Sai Sudharsan being run out.
Jagadeesan’s was an innings of two parts. Sedate until he reached 50, he turned expansive soon after, smashing medium pacer Nithish Kumar Reddy over extra-cover, mid-on and mid-wicket for boundaries.
Andhra opener Abhishek Reddy during his 85-run knock against Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Alur Grounds in Bengaluru on November 13, 2022. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
He moved into the 80s with a pulled four and a hooked six off seamer Harishankar Reddy, before hitting left-arm spinner Manish Golamaru for a six over deep midwicket. A nudged single brought up the century, his fourth in List A cricket.
Earlier, after being put into bat, Andhra was well-placed at 143/1, with Abhishek Reddy (85, 99b, 9x4, 1x6) and K.S. Bharat (51, 62b, 4x4, 1x6) combining for 107 runs. Reddy’s was a stroke-filled knock, his standout shot a pulled six over deep mid-wicket off speedster Sandeep Warrier.
But the former Kerala pacer would soon have his revenge, forcing Reddy to miscue to the mid-off fielder. In his next over, he removed Bharat too, caught on the leg-side while attempting a sweep. It was a twin blow from which Andhra never recovered.
Andhra’s K.S. Bharat during his half-century against Tamil Nadu in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the Alur Grounds in Bengaluru on November 13, 2022. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
Elsewhere, Kerala defeated Arunachal Pradesh by nine wickets as Rohan S. Kunnummal smashed an unbeaten 28-ball 77 (13x4, 3x6) in a 103-run chase. N.P. Basil also starred, with a four-wicket haul (4/17).
