The method wherein a lot of the Tamil Nadu batters went about their business, it appeared as in the event that they wanted to attain the goal of 203 in 40 overs, once they had as many as 64 overs.
Tamil Nadu’s eight-run defeat by the hands of Andhra within the Ranji Trophy duel on the Ramakrishna College floor will go down as one in every of its worst setbacks.
And the inept pacing of the innings was a significant factor within the defeat.
Apart from the resilient Washington Sundar and skipper B. Indrajith, not one of the batters displayed the applying wanted towards a disciplined Andhra assault on a fourth day pitch that provided some help however was under no circumstances unplayable.
While the pitch, with good bounce and carry, progressively assisted the spinners, the sporting floor additionally inspired the batters to play their strokes.
Despite holding the aces, the host managed to grab defeat from the jaws of victory. A facet coasting to a win at 155 for 3 stumbled so badly that it ended up shedding.
Indrajith (43) was adjudged leg-before to off-spinner Shoaib Md. Khan. He advised he had nicked the ball however within the absence of know-how, there was no proof. Similarly, in Andhra’s second innings, Hanuma Vihari was dominated out caught behind on the leg-side when he indicated that he had not edged.
After the autumn of Indrajith, Tamil Nadu had two extra specialist batters in Vijay Shankar and Pradosh Ranjan Paul and fewer than 50 runs to get.
Vijay Shankar, with minimal footwork, spooned a return catch to Shoaib, and Pradosh Ranjan’s tried hook at paceman Ok.V. Sasikanth had disastrous penalties. Both batters had succumbed to strain.
From 155 for 3, Tamil Nadu was 158 for six and a wholly completely different state of affairs was readily available. The match had change into a humdinger when it ought to have been a simple choosing for the host.
All alongside, the left-handed Washington (65) was batting with grace, magnificence and duty in a hectic scenario. All he wanted was assist.
Sai Kishore has some batting credentials however was foxed by Shoaib. Tamil Nadu was 163 for seven.
The strong and composed Washington collected runs with minimal dangers – solely Ajith Ram lent him some assist.
But with solely the final man, Sandeep Warrier, for firm, Washington was compelled to go for a deadly pull shot.
Several questions might be requested. With N. Jagadeesan in such wonderful kind, why did he go hell for leather-based on the high of the order. He ought to have constructed an innings with widespread sense batting.
B. Aparajith too might have constructed his innings as an alternative of launching right into a flurry of photographs.
Sai Sudharsan sparkled throughout his innings of 37 however ought to have kicked on to an even bigger rating.
With solely the primary innings lead towards Hyderabad after which happening to Andhra [two of the weaker teams in Elite Group ‘B’], Tamil Nadu has a mountain to climb for qualification.