Chennai, Oct 27 (UNI) A string of superb batting performances topped by opener Aayush Pandey’s maiden century yesterday, placed Chhattisgarh in a commanding position at close on the second day of the third Elite Group D Ranji Trophy cricket match at Coimbatore on Sunday.
Resuming at 293 for two, Chhattisgarh, helped by fine contributions from overnight unbeaten half centurions Anuj Tiwary and Sanjeet Desai–both missed out on a well deserved hundred– and 50-plus scores by lower middle order batters Eknath Kerkar and Ajay Mandal propelled the team to 500 all out in 169.1 overs shortly before close.
In reply, Tamil Nadu were 23 for one in eight overs, when the stumps were drawn and has a mountain to climb for the crucial first innings lead.
The No.3 and No.4 batters, southpaw Anuj resuming at 68 and Sanjeet Desai (52 not out overnight) stretched their third wicket stand to 123 in 44.4 overs.
Anuj scored 84 (173 balls, 8×4, 1×6) and Sanjeet Desai made a crafty (82, 202 balls, 10×4, 1×6) before the visitors lost three wickets in 36 runs in 6.2 overs, including that of skipper Amandeep Khare (4).
However, Eknath (52, 128 balls, 7×4) and Ajay Mandal (64, 106 balls, 5×4, 1×6) came up with fine half centuries and added 91 for the sixth wicket in 30.3 overs to shore up the team total.
For Tamil Nadu left arm spinners Ajith Ram and Manimaran Siddarth bagged four and three wickets respectively before Chhatisgarh were all out for exactly 500.
Responding to a big total, the home team started badly losing opener Suresh Lokeshwar (7) before captain N.Jagadeesan, who is in fine nick and never failed in his home ground and night watchman Ajith Ram, were unbeaten on six and 10 respectively at close.
Brief scores :
Chhattisgarh : 500 all out in 169.1 overs (Aayush Pandey 124, Rishabh Tiwari 46, Anuj Tiwary 84, Sanjeet Desai 82, Eknath Kerkar 52, Ajay Mandal 64, S.Ajith Ram 4 for 132, Manimaran Siddarth 3 for 142) vs Tamil Nadu 23 for one in 8 overs.
