Sport - Cricket

TN meets Karnataka in a crucial tie

CHENNAI: As was suspected at the start of the tournament, the final-round match between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on Monday will decide the champion of the South Zone Ranji one-day cricket league for the K.S. Subbiah Pillai Trophy.

Both sides have followed the script thus far, remaining unbeaten and sealing their spots in the National knockout phase.

“We have executed well,” said Tamil Nadu coach W.V. Raman referring to his side’s four successive wins, “but all this will amount to nothing if we don’t put it across the opposition in what is a virtual final.”

For Tamil Nadu, M. Vijay and S. Vidyut have scored two centuries each in the tournament (as has Karnataka’s Bharat Chipli), while seamers C. Ganapathy and P. Amarnath have bowled with good rhythm.

Raman’s counterpart, Vijay Bharadwaj, is optimistic of defending the trophy won last season.

“Eighty per cent of our job is complete,” said Bharadwaj. “We enjoy playing and defeating Tamil Nadu and we are confident. We are clicking as a batting unit with Chipli, Raghu and C.M. Gowtham among the runs. Vinay Kumar has had a good series all round.”

The conditions at the ICL-Guru Nanak College ground — a true track and a fast outfield — should help batting. Said Raman, “It’s going to be a bathaton, and it will be a case of out-batting the opponent.” — Special Correspondent

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