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On a two-paced first-day wicket that offered turn, off-spinner Utkarsh Singh (six for 30) cracked open Tamil Nadu’s batting like a bunch of eggs to help Jharkhand secure a seemingly premium 79-run lead in the last-round Group-D match of the ongoing Ranji Trophy at the Keenan stadium here on Thursday.
It was all idyllic for Tamil Nadu when its openers Mohamed Ali and N. Jagadeesan racked up 51 runs in response to Jharkhand’s measly 185, only for it to go south quite spectacularly. It all began with Jagadeesan’s run out. The batter had survived a similar attempt earlier but still dared to put his stay at the crease and, retrospectively, his team’s campaign at risk when he pursued a tight single. A clean throw from Ishan Kishan at point brought the curtains down on his first essay of the game.
Tamil Nadu’s B. Indrajith
| Photo Credit:
RV Moorthy
Tamil Nadu’s B. Indrajith
| Photo Credit:
RV Moorthy
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Pradosh Ranjan Paul fell in the very next over to hand Utkarsh his first scalp of the day. He then took out Ali and Andre Siddarth — both trapped leg before — in a single over to shake TN’s core. Sai Kishore decided to play the risk-reward game but paid the price after a lusty skied hit off Utkarsh landed safely in Bal Krishna’s hands who ran back from square leg. While tailender M. -Mohammad entertained with four boundaries, he too was caught leg before to complete Utkarsh’s third first-class fifer. It was only fitting that he claimed the last wicket of Tamil Nadu’s innings – with Ajith Ram rapped on his pad by a ball that kept low.
In between, Tamil Nadu was dealt with a shattering blow when Indrajith retired hurt and limped off the field. Skipper Sai Kishore later said that he’d pulled up a calf muscle and won’t take any further part in the contest.
When the day’s proceedings finally ended, Sai Kishore’s (three for 42) and Ajith Ram’s (three for 47) exploits and Sharandeep Singh’s half-century (52) seemed so distant.
The scores:
Jharkhand – 1st innings: Utkarsh Singh c Jagadeesan b Mohammed 10, Sharandeep Singh b Ajith 52, Kumar Suraj b Mohammed 0, Virat Singh c Siddarth b Ajith 40, Kumar Kushagra c Lakshay b Ajith 0, Ishan Kishan lbw b Sai Kishore, Anukul Roy c Shankar b Sai Kishore 46, Aditya Singh lbw b Lakshay 8, Bal Krishna b Lakshay 4, Manishi lbw b Sai Kishore 4, Ashish Kumar (not out) 4; Extras (lb-7, nb-1, w-1): 9; Total (all out in 53.2 overs): 185.
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-16, 3-83, 4-83, 5-102, 6-122, 7-145, 8-151, 9-180, 10-185.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Mohammed 9-1-31-2, Trilok 5-1-23-0, Sai Kishore 12.2-3-42-3, Shankar 3-1-7-0, Ajith Ram 15-3-47-3, Lakshay 8-0-27-2, Ali 1-0-1-0.
Tamil Nadu – 1st innings: Mohamed Ali lbw b Utkarsh 37, N. Jagadeesan run out (Ishan) 16, Pradosh Ranjan Paul c Virat b Utkarsh 2, B. Indrajith retired hurt 2, Vijay Shankar c Virat b Manishi 17, Andre Siddarth lbw b Utkarsh 0, Sai Kishore c Krishna b Utkarsh 4, M. Mohammed lbw b Utkarsh 21, Ajith Ram lbw b Utkarsh 4, Lakshay lbw b Manishi 0, Trilok Nag (not out) 1; Extras (b-1, lb-1): 2; Total (for nine wkts. in 27.5 overs): 106.
Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-53, 3-66, 4-66, 5-76, 6-100, 7-102, 8-102, 9-106.
Jharkhand bowling: Ashish 2-0-18-0, Bal Krishna 2-0-4-0, Anukul 7-0-20-0, Manishi 9-0-32-2, Utkarsh 7.5-1-30-6.
Jharkhand – 2nd innings: Kumar Suraj lbw b Sai Kishore 0, Sharandeep Singh (not out) 0, Manishi (not out) 5; Extras: 0; Total (for one wkt, in 2 overs): 5.
Fall of wickets: 1-0.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Sai Kishore 1-0-5-1, Ajith Ram 1-1-0-0.
