Washington Sundar stood tall and whipped the ball off his legs. On view was poise, balance and a distinctive quality some left-handers possess — ‘lazy’ elegance.
Actually, it is a lot about picking the length early and making suitable adjustments to footwork that creates more time and makes the batsman’s response appear relaxed and easy.
On a murky, cloudy second day of the Ranji duel here, Washington’s iridescent strokeplay lighted up the proceedings.
The young southpaw’s unbeaten 156 (223b, 14x4, 1x6) not just underlined his promise but also powered Tamil Nadu to a 74-lead over Tripura with eight wickets remaining at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Replying to Tripura’s first innings 258, Tamil Nadu was 332 for two at stumps.
Washington and the efficient B. Indrajith (73 batting, 121b, 6x4) have added 152 for the unbroken third wicket stand off 216 balls.
With a stiff neck keeping M. Vijay out of the match, Washington opened the innings with skipper Abhinav.
The effortlessness with which Washington struck the ball during his maiden Ranji hundred demanded attention. Washington has a pronounced back-lift but the bat, importantly, comes down straight. He also has a forward press but can shift his weight to the back leg if the length demands so.
The back swing was smooth as he straight drove. And his nonchalant six over covers off off-spinner Joydeep Bhattacharjee was a stunning blow.
The Tripura attack was not threatening, the surface played good and the Tamil Nadu batting machine finally started to roll.
Big partnership
Washington and skipper Abhinav (76, 130b, 10x4) put on 162 in 247 deliveries in an all left-hand association for the first wicket.
Abhinav essayed some punishing shots, opening up the field on the off-side with cover-drives, cuts and glides before being picked up at deep-point off Joydeep.
Kaushik Gandhi perished to an attempted sweep shot off left-arm spinner Gurinder Singh.
Then, the organised Indrajith, driving, flicking and cutting the ball into the open spaces provided Washington solid support.
In the morning, Tamil Nadu made short work of the last three Tripura wickets. Lively seamer K. Vignesh scalped four. He made the lower order batsmen smell leather with short pitched deliveries and then consumed them with lateral movement.
Later, Washington took flight.
The scores:
Tripura — 1st innings: Bishal Ghosh c Karthik b K. Vignesh 0, Udiyan Bose lbw b L. Vignesh 2, Rajesh Banik b Rahil 17, Smit Patel c Kousik b Washington 99, Yashpal Singh st Karthik b Ashwin 96, Abhijit Dey lbw b Washington 0, Gurinder Singh c Indrajith b K. Vignesh 13, M.B. Mura Singh c Rahil b Ashwin 18, Rana Datta c Washington b K. Vignesh 4, Abhijit Sarkar c Indrajith b K. Vignesh 0, Joydeep Bhattcharjee (not out) 0; Extras (b-5, lb-1, nb-2, w-1): 9; Total (in 96.1 overs): 258.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-18, 3-41, 4-203, 5-208, 6-232, 7-244, 8-258, 9-258.
Tamil Nadu bowling: K. Vignesh 23-6-41-4, L. Vignesh 10-1-38-1, R. Ashwin 25.1-6-64-2, Rahil Shah 12-2-40-1, Sai Kishore 14-5-29-0, Washington Sundar 12-2-40-2.
Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: M.S. Washington Sundar (batting) 156, Abhinav Mukund c Gurinder b Joydeep 76, Kaushik Gandhi lbw b Gurinder 9, B. Indrajith (batting) 73; Extras (b-5, lb-1, nb-5, w-7): 18; Total (for two wkts. in 81 overs): 332.
Fall of wickets: 1-162, 2-180.
Tripura bowling: Mura Singh 14-3-59-0, Rana Dutta 10-0-50-0, Joydeep Bhattcharjee 21-0-86-1, Abhijit Sarkar 6-0-27-0, Abhijit Dey 10-2-36-0, Gurinder Singh 17-1-61-1, Yashpal Singh 3-1-7-0.
