Sharath, Hemant take centrestage

By Our Sports Reporter

CHENNAI, MARCH. 13. The youngsters have packed a punch, the experienced players have pulled their weight, and Tamil Nadu is virtually through to the Ranji Trophy quarterfinals.

This blend of youth and experience was very much on view at the IIT-Chemplast ground here on Tuesday as senior batsman S. Sharath (144 batting, 251b, 18x4, 2x6) and the promising C. Hemant Kumar (87, 147b, 6x4, 1x6) enabled Tamil Nadu finish the fourth day of this Ranji last 16 clash against Delhi at a healthy 278 for four, after grabbing a massive lead of 227.

In the morning, the Delhi first innings did not last long, the side adding just 11 runs to its overnight score of 354 for seven. Harender Chowdhary (60, 133b, 7x4) was done in by S. Badrinath's direct hit from square-leg, Amit Bhandari, beaten for pace by M.R. Shrinivas, saw his off-stump take a walk, and Robin Singh (jr) nicked S. Mahesh for wicket-keeper Reuben Paul to complete his fourth catch of the innings. Tamil Nadu captain Robin Singh chose not to enforce the follow-on.

Openers Badrinath - he was at the receiving end this time - and S. Sriram perished to run-out dismissals, but southpaws Sharath and Hemant were quick to reassert Tamil Nadu's supremacy in the game with some sparkling strokeplay, raising 207 for the third wicket in 58.1 overs.

Hemant, presenting a pretty picture as he leaned into those off- drives, looked set for his third hundred in only his third Ranji innings, when he stepped out to Virendra Sehwag, bowling off- spin, missed the line and Pradeep Chawla did the rest.

Sharath, always a busy batsman, pulled off-spinner Harender for a six, to move into the 90s, and reached his hundred with another pull off the same bowler. And his scorching cover- drive off paceman Amit Bhandari was easily the shot of the day.

The scores:

Tamil Nadu - 1st innings: 592

Delhi - 1st innings: G. Gambhir c Kapoor b Shrinivas 20; A. Chopra b Mahesh 11; R. Sanghvi c Reuben b Robin 31; M. Minhas c Sharath b Shrinivas 58; V. Sehwag c Reuben b Mahesh 106; V. Dahiya c Reuben b Shrinivas 15; P. Chawla lbw b Robin 30; H. Chowdhary (run out) 60; A. Bhandari b Shrinivas 20; A. Suman (not out) 0; Robin (jr) c Reuben b Mahesh 3; Extras (b- 4, lb-5, nb-2) 11; Total (in 106 overs) 365.

Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-41, 3-107, 4- 153, 5-179, 6-228, 7-285, 8-362, 9-362.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Mahesh 29-5-102-3; Shrinivas 29-5-111-4; Robin 20-10-45-2; Aashish 19-2-54-0; Vidyut 9-0-44-0.

Tamil Nadu - 2nd innings: S. Sriram (run out) 16; S. Badrinath (run out) 21; C. Hemant Kumar st Chawla b Sehwag 87; S. Sharath (batting) 144; J.R. Madanagopal c Chawla b Suman 3; S. Mahesh (batting) 4; Extras (lb-2, nb-1) 3; Total (for four wkts. in 82 overs) 278.

Fall of wickets: 1-33, 2-37, 3-244, 4- 262.

Delhi bowling: Robin (jr) 12-2-25-0; Suman 15-2-58-1; Bhandari 12-2-49-0; Sehwag 14-2-33-1; Sanghvi 16-0-54-0; Harender 12-1-56- 0; Minhas 1-0-1-0.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Sport
Previous : West Indies dictates terms
Next     : MCC cure for umpiring ills