Tamil Nadu too strong for Saurashtra

It was easier than expected as Tamil Nadu wrapped up their Group C encounter against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy Super League at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on Monday by an innings and 26 runs with more than a day to spare.

Even though Tamil Nadu were in a position of some strength at stumps on the second day, few would have thought that the match would be over on the third day itself. But the hosts' dominance was complete. It started with Saurashtra, 189 for five overnight in reply to Tamil Nadu's first innings total of 471, being all out for 217. Saurashtra, at 204 for five seemed well set to make a fitting reply. But the last five wickets fell for the addition of only 13 runs in 6.2 overs. Hitesh Parsana held firm and remained unbeaten with 54 at the end of the innings. He faced 94 balls and hit nine fours and a six. But the tail was simply swept aside by J Gokulakrishna. The medium pacer took the last four wickets off 14 balls to finish with five for 42. Sadagopan Mahesh took three for 57.

Following on 254 runs behind, Saurashtra fared only a little better in their second innings. Mahesh took two quick wickets as Saurashtra were 20 for two. Then opener Vasanth Kumar (28) and PJ Bhatt (88) added 68 runs for the third wicket off 19.5 overs. Then off spinner Aashish Kapoor got among the wickets as Saurashtra slid to 113 for five. But Bhatt and Parsana (36) added 66 runs for the sixth wicket off just 7.4 overs before the latter was out. Bhatt was ninth out for a gallant 88. He faced 137 balls and hit 15 fours. The inevitable defeat was delayed for some time with the last two batsmen Narendrasinh Rana (37) and Rajesh Garsondia (4 not out) adding 33 runs off four overs. Rana slammed two fours and four sixes in his 29 ball knock. Kapoor, despite being expensive, picked up five wickets for 85 runs from 17 overs while Mahesh finished with four for 61. Saurashtra were all out for 228, giving Tamil Nadu eight points.