Madhya Pradesh fights back after conceding lead to Tamil Nadu

The visitor had earlier shrugged off the early loss of N Jagadeesan, who fell for 101, to secure a 62-run lead riding on a strokeful ton by V Yo Mahesh, his second this season after being recalled. 

Tamil Nadu finished with 326 in response to MP’s first innings score of 264. 

Opener Rajat Patidar, batting on 81 off 131 balls (12 fours and a six) and Shubham Sharma (41, 79 balls) saw off a tricky early spell from the Tamil Nadu bowlers K Vignesh and M Mohammed to build the innings.

By the end of the day the host had increased the lead to 80 runs. Though Tamil Nadu captain Abhinav Mukund used six bowlers, Patidar and Sharma batted in a resolute manner to deny the rival any advantage. 

Tamil Nadu, in a must-win situation with just another game to go after this, pressed hard for a breakthrough but Patidar played well to deny it any success. Vignesh, who did most of the damage in the first innings for Tamil Nadu, dismissed Aditya Shrivatsava for 16, caught by B Aparajith. 

However, he couldn’t make too much of an impression on Patidar and Sharma. Earlier, resuming at 191 for 6, Tamil Nadu saw N Jagadeesan and V Yomahesh post centuries and help the team secure the lead and register 326 in the first innings in reply to MP’s 264. Jagadeesan, who was 94 not out overnight, added seven more runs before falling to Avesh Khan. His 101 included 13 fours. Yo Mahesh, who had help resurrect the Tamil Nadu innings, continued to attack and added 92 runs with M Mohammed (43, 5X4, 1X6) for the eighth wicket. 

The all-rounder, who hit seven boundaries and five sixers in his 103 not out, was involved in a 26-run stand with No.10 R Sai Kishore to extend Tamil Nadu’s lead. 

The innings ended when last man K Vignesh was lbw to Ankit Sharma.

Tamil Nadu (1st innings): N Jagadeesan b Avesh Khan 101, Abhinav Mukund b Puneet Datey 5, Vijay Shankar c Ankit Dane b Puneet Datey 0, B Indrajith c Ankit Dane b Pandey 25, B Aparajith b Pandey 0, Washington Sundar c Bundela b Puneet Datey 9, M Rangarajan lbw Pandey 8, Yo Mahesh (not out) 103, M Mohammed c Bundela b Mihir Hirwani 43, R Sai Kishore st Ankit Dane b Mihir Hirwani 14, K Vignesh lbw Ankit Sharma 4. Extras: 14. Total (in 105.4 overs) 326. 

FoW: 1-19, 2-19, 3-38, 4-54, 5-71, 6-76, 7-203, 8-295, 9-321. Bowling: Ishwar Pandey 26-11-67-3, Puneet Datey 247-55-3, Avesh Khan 23-4-63-1, Harpreet Singh 6-2-100, Ankit Sharma 14.4-0-79-1, Mihir Hirwani 12-1-42-2. 

Madhya Pradesh (2nd innings): Aditya Shrivastava c Aparajith b K Vignesh 16, Rajat Patidar (batting) 81, Shubham Sharma (batting) 41. Extras: 4. Total (for one wicket in 40 overs) 142. 

FoW: 1-34. Bowling: M Mohammed 6-2-20-0, Vijay Shankar 9-442-0, K Vignesh 9-2-21-1, R Sai Kishore 9-1-32-0, M Rangarajan 4-0-18-0, Washington Sundar 3-0-8-0.