Date:27/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/27/stories/2008022755142000.htm

Sport - Cricket

Vidyut century powers TN to five-wicket win

Special Correspondent

— Photo: V. Ganesan.

BLAZING KNOCK: S. Vidyut, who came in with his side at 10 for one, scored at a brisk rate to ensure Tamil Nadu won, and earned a bonus point in the process.

CHENNAI: S. Vidyut’s unbeaten century powered Tamil Nadu to a five-wicket win in the first round of the South Zone Ranji one-day cricket league for the K.S. Subbiah Pillai Trophy at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Tuesday.

So quickly did Vidyut score that Tamil Nadu chased Goa’s 198 in fewer than 40 overs and earned the bonus point. The left-hander, who walked in with his side on ten for one, blazed to 120 in 105 balls; the next highest score was 17.

Vidyut’s innings was an exhibition of ball striking. He began with a firm square drive for four and ended with a flat-batted pull over deep mid-wicket for six. His driving and flicking were authoritative, and he showed good touch with the dab to third man. In all, he hit 13 fours and three sixes.

Vidyut’s running was less assured, however. His fourth-wicket partnership of 62 with R. Prasanna had several nervous moments before a fatal mix-up. The 26-year-old had earlier added 52 with S. Badrinath for the third wicket.

Steadying the ship

The two partnerships helped Tamil Nadu nullify the early loss of the openers. Saurav Bandekar forced M. Vijay to chop on before catching S. Anirudha on the crease. Vidyut later lost Badrinath (top-edging a sweep to the keeper, Ajay Ratra) and R. Ramkumar (mis-timing to mid-off). But, he overcame a lapse in concentration after reaching his hundred to wrap the match up.

Tamil Nadu’s bowlers had earlier reduced Goa to 47 for five in the 18th over. C. Ganapathy, P. Amarnath, and M.K. Sivakumar struck. J. Arun Kumar (57) and Rohit Asnodkar (59) rallied with a 92-run stand for the sixth wicket, the former timing the ball particularly well.

Bandekar and Shadab Jakati managed a few hits to the fence before Ganapathy (three for 34) and Ramkumar ended Goa’s innings. Wicketkeeper K.H. Gopinath turned in a fine performance, taking four catches.

In another first-round match, at SRMC, Sarvesh Kumar’s five-wicket haul and Abhinav Kumar’s 85 went in vain as Kerala registered a seven-run win over Hyderabad. K.J. Rakesh, who top-scored for Kerala, also took three wickets.

Meanwhile at CPT-IP, Bharat Chipli scored an undefeated 109 to help Karnataka defeat Andhra by six wickets.

The scores: Goa 198 in 49.3 overs (J. Arun Kumar 57, Rohit Asnodkar 59) lost to Tamil Nadu 202 for five in 37.4 overs (S. Vidyut 120 n.o.). Points: TN: 5, Goa: -1.

Kerala 237 in 49.5 overs (K.J. Rakesh 43, Sarvesh Kumar five for 47) bt Hyderabad 230 for eight in 50 overs (Abhinav Kumar 85). Points: Kerala: 4, Hyderabad: 0.

Andhra 227 for nine in 50 overs (A.G. Pradeep 49, K.A. Fayaz Ahmed 47) lost to Karnataka 228 for four in 45.1 overs (Bharat Chipli 109 n.o.). Points: Karnataka 4, Andhra 0.