: On a two-paced first-day wicket that offered turn, off-spinner Utkarsh Singh (six for 30) cracked open Tamil Nadu’s batting as if it were an eggshell, for Jharkhand to secure a seemingly premium 79-run lead in the final round Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match at the Keenan stadium here on Thursday.
It was all idyllic for Tamil Nadu when its openers Mohamed Ali and N. Jagadeesan had racked up 51 runs in response to Jharkhand’s 185, only for it to turn all chaotic and twirly with the latter’s run out at the non-striker’s end. Jagadeesan had survived a run-out scare earlier. Still, he was too daring to put his wicket and, retrospectively, his team’s whole campaign at risk when he was defeated by Ishan Kishan’s throw from point in his pursuit of another tight single.
In the next over, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, who looked tentative, nicked to slip before he could even ease in to become Utkarsh’s first victim. Soon after, the offie’s double strike in one over – Ali and Andre Siddarth were both trapped in front – shook Tamil Nadu’s core, leaving it vibrating with more than faint unease. Sai Kishore, probably deciding to play a risk-reward game, went for a lusty hit and skied it for Utkarsh to obtain the best bargain. The catch was well taken by Bal Krishna, who had to run back from square leg. Tailender Mohammed, who entertained with four boundaries, was dismissed lbw as Utkarsh completed his third first class five-wicket haul. It was only apt that he claimed the last wicket of Tamil Nadu’s innings – Ajith Ram was rapped on his pad by a ball that kept low for a leg before wicket.
In between, Tamil Nadu was dealt a shattering blow when B. Indrajith retired hurt and limped off the field. Skipper Sai Kishore later said that he’d pulled up a calf muscle and won’t take any further part in the contest.
When the day’s play, which seemed like a spin in a laundry machine with plenty happening, came to a halt, Sai Kishore’s (three for 42) and Ajith Ram’s (three for 47) exploits and Sharandeep Singh’s half-century (52) seemed so distant.
The scores:
Jharkhand – 1st innings: Utkarsh Singh c Jagadeesan b Mohammed 10, Sharandeep Singh b Ajith 52, Kumar Suraj b Mohammed 0, Virat Singh c Siddarth b Ajith 40, Kumar Kushagra c Lakshay b Ajith 0, Ishan Kishan lbw b Sai Kishore, Anukul Roy c Shankar b Sai Kishore 46, Aditya Singh lbw b Lakshay 8, Bal Krishna b Lakshay 4, Manishi lbw b Sai Kishore 4, Ashish Kumar (not out) 4; Extras (lb-7, nb-1, w-1): 9; Total (all out in 53.2 overs): 185.
Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-16, 3-83, 4-83, 5-102, 6-122, 7-145, 8-151, 9-180, 10-185.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Mohammed 9-1-31-2, Trilok 5-1-23-0, Sai Kishore 12.2-3-42-3, Shankar 3-1-7-0, Ajith Ram 15-3-47-3, Lakshay 8-0-27-2, Ali 1-0-1-0.
Tamil Nadu – 1st innings: Mohamed Ali lbw b Utkarsh 37, N. Jagadeesan run out (Ishan) 16, Pradosh Ranjan Paul c Virat b Utkarsh 2, B. Indrajith retired hurt 2, Vijay Shankar c Virat b Manishi 17, Andre Siddarth lbw b Utkarsh 0, Sai Kishore c Krishna b Utkarsh 4, M. Mohammed lbw b Utkarsh 21, Ajith Ram lbw b Utkarsh 4, Lakshay lbw b Manishi 0, Trilok Nag (not out) 1; Extras (b-1, lb-1): 2; Total (for nine wkts. in 27.5 overs): 106.
Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-53, 3-66, 4-66, 5-76, 6-100, 7-102, 8-102, 9-106.
Jharkhand bowling: Ashish 2-0-18-0, Bal Krishna 2-0-4-0, Anukul 7-0-20-0, Manishi 9-0-32-2, Utkarsh 7.5-1-30-6.
Jharkhand – 2nd innings: Kumar Suraj lbw b Sai Kishore 0, Sharandeep Singh (not out) 0, Manishi (not out) 5; Extras: 0; Total (for one wkt, in 2 overs): 5.
Fall of wicket: 1-0.
Tamil Nadu bowling: Sai Kishore 1-0-5-1, Ajith Ram 1-1-0-0.
Published – January 30, 2025 08:22 pm IST
