Tamil Nadu qualify for Ranji Trophy quarter-finals

Tamil Nadu got the better of Delhi on the basis of their first innings lead in the pre-quarter-final match at the IIT Chemplast ground, Chennai, on Wednesday. The result confirmed their place in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final to be played from March 22 to 26 against Baroda at Baroda.

Resuming at 278/4, Tamil Nadu went about accumulating runs on a placid track that offered nothing to the bowlers. S Mahesh and S Sharath added 142 runs for the fifth wicket. Sharath duly went on to make his double hundred in great style. He made 224 runs off 352 balls and decorated his innings with three sixes and 29 boundaries. Mahesh made 71 with the help of 11 boundaries. Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan who scored a century playing at number eleven in the first essay, got promoted in the batting line-up and played a blinder of an innings that earned him 42 runs off just 33 balls. He struck half a dozen fours and two sixes in his breezy knock. Tamil Nadu declared at 515/8 in their second innings.

Batting again, Delhi made 149 for one off 32 overs in the remaining time. Openers Akash Chopra (61) and Gautam Ghambir (69 not out) put on 126 runs.