Chennai: Some solid batting by Tamil Nadu middle-order batsmen took the team to 273/9 after the first day’s play in a Ranji Trophy match against Maharashtra at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.
Tamil Nadu elected to bat first after winning the toss, their opening combination is their strength as both Abhinav Mukund and Mirali Vijay have been in good form off late. But in this match they failed as Shrikant Munde got both the players out very early in the day.
S Badrinath came in to bat at number four but he failed to open his account as Mundhe rattled his stumps, TN tottering at 3-8 needed a partnership and Baba Aparajith (23) and Dinesh Karthik (29) provided a much needed stability to the innings with a partnership of 54 runs for the fourth wicket.
But both these batsmen got out in quick succession and it looked as if TN innings will be folded before the 200 run-mark. But R Prasanna and Yo Mahesh changed the complexion of the game. Prasanna (56) rotated the strike beautifully, while Mahesh (81) being the aggressor. Together the two added 110 runs and took TN close to 200.
After the two got out, an unbeaten 50 from M Rangarajan took the innings past the 250 mark as TN ended the day at 273 with one wicket in hand.
Brief Score:
Tamil Nadu: 273/9 (Mahesh 81, Prasanna 56, Mundhe 3-38)
By Indian Sports News Network