Chennai, Oct 28 (UNI) After piling up a huge total, Chhattisgarh is in complete control, having secured a big 241 run first innings lead at close on the third day of the third Elite Group D Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu at Coimbatore on Monday.
After the visitor’s rattled up a big total of 500, Tamil Nadu, resuming at 23 for one in eight overs, were bowled out for 259 in 77.2 overs.
Trailing by 241 runs, the home team, following on, were 71 for one in 16 overs, with skipper N Jagadeesan and C.Andre Siddarth batting on 28 and 36 respectively, still trailing by 170 runs, with a day remaining.
Earlier, barring half centuries by lower middle order batsmen M Shahrukh Khan (50, 66 balls, 2×4, 3×6) and No.8 Andre Siddazrth, who scored his second successive half century (55 ot out, 5×4, 1×6), there were no substantial contributions from other batters as leggie Shubham Agarwal tormented with a five wicket haul.
Off spinner Jeevesh Butte chipped in with three wickets, that ensure Chhattisgarh secured a big first innings lead, putting the team firmly in control for their first win of the season.
In the morning, Tamil Nadu after a 73 run second wicket stand between overnight pair of Jagadeesan (49) and night watchman Ajith Ram (34), the home team lost the plot and were struggling at 143 for six at one stage.
However, the seventh wicket pair of M Shahrukh Khan and Siddarth lent some respectability with a 96-run stand for the seven wicket in 24.5 overs, before the innings folded up.
Faced with a huge deficit, Tamil Nadu again started badly losing opener Suresh Lokeshwar early, before Jagadeesan and Siddarth, saw the team ending the day without further hiccups, adding an unbroken 64 runs in 14.1 overs for the second wicket.
The home team faces an uphill task on the morrow, while the visitors will be keen to press home the advantage for getting full points.
Brief scores :
Chhattisgarh 500 vs Tamil Nadu 259 in 77.2 overs (N. Jagadeesan 49, S. Ajith Ram 34, Vijay Shankar 32, M. Shahrukh Khan 50, Andre Siddarth 55 not out, Shubham Agarwal 5 for 62, Jeevesh Butte 3 for 66) and 71 for 1 in 16 overs (N. Jagadeesan 28 batting, Andre Siddarth 36 batting).
