Chennai, Jan 31 (.) Thanks to a big century by opener R Vimal Kumar (182) and an
equally attractive 80 by No.3 Pradosh Ranjan Paul, josts Tamil Nadu secured the first
innings lead against Baroda on the third day of the Elite Group A Ranji Trophy cricket
match at Salem cricket ground in Salem district on Saturday.
Responding to Baroda’s 375, Tamil Nadu, resuming at 118 for no loss, ended the day at
411 for seven, securing a lead of 36 runs with three wickets in hand.
Vimal Kumar lost his opener partner Athish, who just added one run to his overnight score
of 42 in the second over into the third morning after the duo added 125 for the first wicket
in 37.1 overs.
However, he found an able partner in Pradosh Ranjan Paul as the duo built on the
momentum by pacing their second wicket stand with aplomb.
Punshing the loose deliveries, the duo scored at a good pace picking boundaries on
both sides of wickets to strengthen the home team’s platform for a big total.
Once Paul departed after scoring 80 in 161 balls with nine fours after adding 144 runs
for the second wicket in 52 overs with Vimal, the middle order failed to sustain the
momentum
From 269 for one in 89 overs, Tamil Nadu lost six wickets and slipped to 411 for seven
at close.
Vimal ploughed a lone furrow, as none of the other batters came up with substantial
contributions. After Paul, the home team lost Andre Siddarth (7), G.Ajitesh (15), Sonu
Yadav (15) and skipper Sai Kishore (18) as off spinner Mahesh Pithiya struck at regular
intervals in the post tea sesson, picking up four wickets, including that of Paul, who was
stumped.
Nidish Rajagopal, who came in at No.6, remained unbeaten on 31 when the stumps were
drawn for the day.
Vimal Kumar was the fifth batsman to be dismissed after scoring 182 runs, his second
first class hundred after his 189 against Nagaland, in 334 balls with 13 fours and two
sixers.
With the Tamil Nadu team already out of the knock out race, the contest is heading for
a tame draw with the only interest on the final day tomorrow being to what extent the
home team would be stretching its first innings lead.
Brief scores :
Baroda 375 vs Tamil Nadu 411 for seven in 126 overs (S.R. Athish 43, R. Vimal Khumar
182, Pradosh Ranjan Paul 80, Nidhish S. Rajagopal 31 batting, Mahesh Pithiya 4/110,
Bhargav Bhatt 2/118).
. GV 1735