Rathour crafts a fine innings

By Our Sports Reporter

CHENNAI, APRIL 2. Opener Vikram Rathour brought to use all his experience in crafting an innings of 127 (505m, 262b, 14x4) at the Chidambaram Stadium here on Sunday where Punjab set Tamil Nadu a target of 164, 60-odd runs less than what would have been a challenging total on a pitch which is increasingly taking spin.

By close on the penultimate day of the five-day quarterfinal contest here, Tamil Nadu had knocked up 30 runs for the loss of southpaw S. Sriram, a victim of a rather doubtful caught behind decision.

The morning belonged to Rathour. Overnight on 37 with the team's score at 127 for two while still in deficit by 76 runs, the skipper quite dominated the Tamil Nadu attack. It was his third Ranji Trophy century of the season.

His overnight partner, Pankaj Dharmani, departed early caught behind by Reuben Paul while driving mediumpacer T. Kumaran away from his body.

Rathour and left-hander Yuveraj Singh added 41 runs for the fourth wicket but what the side needed then were big partnerships.

It was about half an hour before lunch, with southpaw Dinesh Mongia in the middle with Rathour, that Punjab overcame the first hurdle - that of wiping out the first innings deficit. The two put on 64 with caution, Rathour displaying admirable judgment in picking up singles.

It was Hemang Badani, brought on as a change bowler, who broke the partnership with his left-arm spin. Just as the stand was gaining dangerous proportion he had Mongia caught behind while the batsman was making room for the cut.

The pressure was mounting on the visitor when Sanjay Kumar was bowled by left-arm spinner Sriram. It was time Rathour began giving the charge, though he took a while in doing so. Rathour and all-rounder Sandeep Sharma (51 not out, 90b, 145m, 6x4) put on 55 for the seventh wicket.

Tamil Nadu delayed taking the second new ball, which was brought on in the 100th over just before tea. Kumaran worked up a good pace and derived bounce. Mahesh forced Rathour into mis-timing a drive to be held at mid-on by Goulakrishnan.

99Mediumpacer Rajat Bhatia cleaned up the tail. Introduced into the attack in the place of Mahesh after Sandeep and Sarandeep had forged a useful partnership, Bhatia picked up the last three wickets in a space 16 deliveries conceding just two runs. Wicketkeeper Reuben Paul had a hand in two of them. The promising wicketkeeper has held five catches in this innings and nine for the match.

The scores:

Punjab - 1st innings: 258.

Tamil Nadu - 1st innings: 461.

Punjab - 2nd innings: Vikram Rathour c Gokulakrishnan b Mahesh 127, Reetinder Singh Sodhi c Reuben Paul b Mahesh 89, Harminder Jugnu (run out) 0, Pankaj Dharmani c Reuben Paul b Kumaran 15, Yuveraj Singh c Badani b Gokulakrishnan 24, Dinesh Mongia c Reuben Paul b Badani 35, Sanjay Kumar b Sriram 0, Sandeep Sharma (not out) 51, Sarandeep Singh c Reuben Paul b Bhatia 13, Harbhajan Singh c Kumaran b Bhatia 0, R.P. Singh c Reuben Paul b Bhatia 0. Extras (b-2, lb-6, nb-4) 12. Total (in 117 overs) 366.

Fall of wickets: 1-126, 2-127, 3-156, 4- 197, 5-261, 6-278, 7- 333, 8-362, 9-364.

Tamil Nadu bowling: T. Kumaran 21-3-75- 1, S. Mahesh 18-1-59-2, D.J. Gokulakrishnan 15-2-49-1, Aashish Kapoor 26-4-75-0, Rajat Bhatia 8-0-18-3, S. Sriram 18-2-46-1, Hemang K. Badani 11-4-36-1.

Tamil Nadu - 2nd innings: S. Sriram c Jugnu b R.P. Singh 13, S. Ramesh (batting) 11, Hemang K. Badani (batting) 4. Extras (nb-2) 2. Total (for one wkt., 13 overs) 30.

Fall of wicket: 1-22.

Punjab bowling: Sandeep Sharma 2-0-11-0, R.P. Singh 4-0-10-1, Harbhajan Singh 5-3-8-0, Reetinder Singh Sodhi 2-1-1-0.

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