Chennai: The fabled Tamil Nadu toporder fired in unison as the hosts stole the day one honours in their Ranji Trophy Group B match against Saurashtra on Thursday. After being asked to bat on a greenish wicket, Tamil Nadu batsmen tackled the conditions well to coast to 268 for two in 80 overs when the play was called off due to bad light.
Opener Abhinav Mukund was unbeaten on 103 and giving him company was young B. Aparajith (40) who looks set for another big knock in domestic cricket. M. Vijay hit his first half-century of the Ranji season with a strokefilled 62, while S.Badrinath was fluent in his knock of 56. The decisons pertaining to the dismissals of the two left tongues wagging.
Vijay didn’t appear convinced after being adjudged caught behind off Chirag Jani just before lunch. He stuck around for a few seconds and even gestured to the leg-umpire before reluctantly walking back to the pavilion.
Badrinath, too, looked solid and was using his feet well against slow bowlers before he was trapped by left-arm spinner Arpit Vasavada. Badrinath was not happy with the decision either as he contented that it was a bat-pad.
Gloomy sky, gentle breeze and grass on the wicket meant the conditions were in favour of bowlers, but Saurashtra seamers led by Jaydev Unadkat failed to hit the right areas and probe the batsmen. The nippy Unadkat managed to generate bounce and even tested Vijay with an array of short balls. But both the TN openers showed a lot of patience.
Right-arm pacers Abhishek Bhat and Chirag Jani bowled a lot more tighter length and moved it in air, but were not consistent enough to do the damage. Vijay and Abhinav were sensible in the first hour as the right-left combo unsettled the pacers by rotating the strike.
Especially, the running between the wickets of Abhinav caught the eye throughout the day.
Vijay upped the ante with three cover-driven boundaries in the 24th over off Sandip Maniar. The third one — a gentle punch on the rise — was easy on the eye. The introduction of offie Kamlesh Makwana was greeted with a four and a six over long-on and soon Vijay celebrated his fifty.
Badrinath took a while to get off the mark, but he turned aggressive the minute he pulled Unadkat to the fence. Shortly, Unadkat had to limp off the field after slipping at the popping crease, but the India seamer returned after tea.
Abhinav would have missed his 19th first-class century by three runs had his mis-timed pull was caught by Bhusan Chouhan at square leg.
With BCCI selector Roger Binny in attendance, Aparajith continued his roaring form. The 19-yearold was spot on in picking the length early and his two well-timed pulls reflected his sound technique.
Earlier, Aparajith's brother Indrajith was awarded his well-deserving first Ranji cap. It would be a rare sight of twins batting in a first-class match if Indrajith, who is also enjoying a purple patch, joins Aparajith in the middle.
Tamil Nadu (1st innings): Abhinav Mukund (batting) 103, Murali Vijay c Sagar Jogyani b Chirag Jani 62, S.
Badrinath lbw Arpit Vasavada 56, B. Aparajith (batting) 40. E Ex xt tr ra as s ( (b b2 2, , l lb b4 4, , w w1 1) ) 7 7. . T To ot ta al l ( (f fo or r t tw wo o w wi ic ck ke et ts s i in n 8 80 0 o ov ve er rs s) ) 2 26 68 8 F Fo oW W: : 97-1, 190-2.
B Bo ow wl li in ng g: : Unadkat 16.4-4-510, Bhat 13.2-2-49-0, Maniar 11-3-37-0, Jani 18-6-29-1, Makwana 12-1-55-0, Vasavada 7-1-29-1, Shah 2-012-0.
