Host Tamil Nadu settles for a point as match ends in draw

Set a target of 218, Andhra made a match of it and even came close to snatching an improbable win as it finished just 20 runs shy of the target at 198 for seven when play ended. 

Right from the outset on the final day, TN played with great urgency to force a positive result in its favour. Skipper Abhinav Mukund and B Aparajith wiped off the deficit during their 113-run partnership for the third wicket and the latter continued his rich vein of form with his sixth first class hundred. 

Andhra pacer Y Prithvi Raj once again acquitted himself well in his debut outing finishing with a match haul of six for 100. India opener Murali Vijay, who had to retire hurt owing to an ankle prain, completed his half century and was out with the score on 325. The host added another 25 runs before declaring its innings at 350 for six.

Andhra started off its pursuit on a positive note as the openers added 85 runs at close to four runs an over. Wicket-keeper Bharat played an entertaining knock that saw him strike two huge sixes and five fours. One drop Ricky Bhui scored 40 runs at exactly a run-a-ball before he was caught by Aparajith off pacer K Vignesh. 

First innings centurion B Sumanth, chipped in with 25 off only 24 balls and at that stage, it appeared that the visitor would be going for an outright win. But after losing four quick wickets, Andhra chose to play it safe and settle for a well-earned draw.

Tamil Nadu (1st innings) 176 | Andhra (1st innings) 309 Tamil Nadu (2nd innings) A Mukund c Ayyappa b Bhatt 95, M Vijay c Ashwin Hebbar b Prasanth 55, M Kaushik Gandhi c Bharat b Prithvi Raj 7, B Indrajith c Bharat b Bhatt 16, B Aparajith (not out) 108, R Ashwin c Ayyappa b Prithvi Raj 15, MS Washington Sundar c Bhui b Prithvi 20, N Jagadeesan (not out) 20. Extras: 14. Total (for six wickets decl. in 105 overs) 350/6decl. FoW: 1-39, 2-79, 3-192, 4-220, 5-253, 6-325. Bowling: Ayyappa 24-7-58-0, Prithvi Raj 20-2-61-3, Bhatt 37-2-123-2, Shoaib Md Khan 19-2-65-0, Ashwin Hebbar 2-0-8-0, Prasanth 3-0-25-1. 

Andhra (2nd innings): DB Prasanth c&b Shah 33, KS Bharat b Shah 64, R Bhui c Aparajith b K Vignesh 40, B Sumanth c Jagadeesan b K Vignesh 25, K Ashwin Hebbar b Ashwin 20, Hanuma Vihari c Washington Sundar b K Vignesh 13, B Ayyappa c Aparajith b Ashwin 0, B Bhatt (not out) 0, Shoaib Mohammed Khan (not out) 0. Extras: 3. Total (for seven wickets in 41.4 overs) 198. FoW: 1-85, 2-114, 3-161, 4-185, 5-187, 6-189, 7-198. Bowling: K Vignesh 7.4-0-34-3, R Ashwin 16-1-92-2, Rahil Shah 11-2-46-2, Washington Sundar 6-1-15-0, L Vignesh 1-0-8-0.