Date:01/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/01/stories/2003020104322300.htm

Sport - Cricket

Tamil Nadu takes on Punjab

CHENNAI JAN. 31. In what will decide the semifinalists from elite group B, Tamil Nadu takes on Punjab at Mohali in one of the seven four-day Ranji Trophy group phase final round matches from Saturday.

Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Baroda have seven points each (the last named has completed its engagements) and while the winner at Mohali will top the group, the second team will be decided on run-quotient (average runs scored per wicket). Tamil Nadu's batting guns need to boom, with an eye on Baroda's quotient, which it needs to better first.

The scenario in group A is clear. Mumbai, which plays Rajasthan away, has an unassailable lead of 12 points while the second spot will be decided by the Delhi-Hyderabad clash that the latter hosts.

Delhi is better placed with seven points while Hyderabad (five points) will need an outright win to force the quotient in the first place.

The other matches are - Group A: Railways v Himachal Pradesh (Delhi), Bengal v Andhra (Kolkata). Group B: Gujarat v Orissa (Ahmedabad), Assam v Uttar Pradesh (Guwahati).