Unicaus NEWS
Whether it was the boundless optimism of youth or real conviction, one wouldn’t know. But barely a day later, his prophecy was fulfilled.
Tamil Nadu was stripped of each morsel of delight it had earned on the second day, first being bowled out for 195 after resuming at 102 for 3, after which watching Andhra chase down a 201-run goal with 4 wickets in hand on the third day of their Elite Group-A fourth-round Ranji Trophy match on the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium right here on Monday.
Though Andhra wobbled in its chase after shedding 4 fast wickets to slide from 158 for 2 to 162 for six, Ok.S. Raju (20 n.o.) and Ashwin Hebbar (21 n.o.) ensured a protected passage. Raju lofted a 4 to lengthy on and cracked a six to cow nook off left-arm spinner Sai Kishore when 14 have been wanted, easing the stress.
But it was opener Abhishek Reddy’s shooting-star innings (70, 75b, 11×4) that gave Andhra early momentum within the chase. He hit three consecutive fours off pacer Trilok Nag — pull to cow nook and midwicket, a sq. drive between the purpose and deep backward level fielders. He charged and hit a straight drive, swept, and performed the late minimize for 3 fours off left-arm spinner P. Vidyuth. Abhishek added 72 runs for the second-wicket stand with left-hander Karan Shinde (51, 64b, 8×4).
On a day when some balls stayed alarmingly low, 4 dismissals got here in that trend. Tamil Nadu’s B. Indrajith (six) and Andre Siddarth (33) have been bowled on the again foot by left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar (4 for 46) and off-spinner Tripurana Vijay whereas Andhra’s Ok.S. Bharat (5) and Rasheed (seven) have been cleanedup by R. Sai Kishore and Vidyuth.
The scores: Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 182
Andhra — 1st innings: 177
Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: R. Vimal Khumar c Bharat b Raju 20, N. Jagadeesan c Bhui b Prithvi Raj 0, B. Sachin run out 51, Pradosh Ranjan Paul b Prithvi Raj 29, R. Sai Kishore lbw b Saurabh 16, B. Indrajith b Saurabh 6, Andre Siddarth b Vijay 33, R. Sonu Yadav c Bharat b Saurabh 28, P. Vidyuth c Bharat b Vijay 2, H. Trilok Nag c Vijay b Saurabh 3, Sandeep Warrier (not out) 0; Extras (w-2, b-4, lb-1): 7; Total (in 70.3 overs): 195
Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-32, 3-101, 4-109, 5-127, 6-130, 7-190, 8-190, 9-195.
Andhra bowling: Prithvi Raj 14-1-31-2, Saiteja 13-4-33-0, Raju 13-1-44-1, Hebbar 5-1-20-0, Vijay 7-2-16-2, Saurabh 18.3-1-46-4
Andhra — 2nd innings: Abhishek Reddy lbw b Sai Kishore 70, Ok.S. Bharat b Sai Kishore 5, Karan Shinde c Vimal b Pradosh 51, Shaik Rasheed b Vidyuth 7, Saurabh Kumar c Vidyuth b Sai Kishore 0, Ricky Bhui lbw b Vidyuth 2, Ashwin Hebbar (not out) 21, Ok.S. Raju (not out) 20; Extras (b-12, lb-9, nb-2, w-2): 25; Total (for six wkts. in 41.2 overs): 201.
Fall of wickets: 1-41, 2-113, 3-158, 4-158, 5-160, 6-162.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Warrier 9-0-59-0, Trilok 2-0-23-0, Sai Kishore 15-0-46-3, Sonu 2-0-12-0, Vidyuth 11.2-0-37-2, Pradosh 2-1-3-1.
