Cricket

Tamil Nadu Crushes Railways in Innings VictoryIn a stunning display of dominance, Tamil Nadu annihilated Railways by an innings and 25 runs in a Ranji Trophy Group-D encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday. The victory was secured in a mere 20 minutes on the fourth day, as Tamil Nadu's bowlers wreaked havoc on the Railways batting lineup.R. Sonu Yadav and S. Ajith Ram were the architects of the demolition, claiming four wickets each. Sonu's strategy of bowling straight to the stumps proved effective, while Ajith Ram's left-arm spin bamboozled the Railways batters.The collapse began with Mohammad Saif's dismissal, as Shahrukh Khan dove low to his right and snared a half-chance. Shivam Chaudhary's edge was safely taken by Shahrukh, who had to run almost 20 yards to complete the catch.Sonu then sent Yuvraj Singh and Kunal Yadav packing in quick succession, leaving Railways reeling at 184 all out. The innings victory earned Tamil Nadu seven points."To get five wickets in 3.4 overs is not at all easy," said Sonu. "We took those and happy that that miracle happened."Ajith Ram added, "Our goal was to restrict them and make sure we had to chase less than a 100. But once we got the first wicket, everything went down so quickly."Tamil Nadu captain N. Jagadeesan was delighted with the crucial win. "These are things that just happen only once in a while and credit to the way Sonu and Ajith Ram bowled."

Tamil Nadu's batting prowess was on full display as they ended day two of their Ranji Trophy Elite Group-D fixture against Railways with a commanding 324 for six, establishing a significant lead of 95 runs.The opening partnership between M. Shahrukh Khan and N. Jagadeesan laid the foundation for TN's strong position. Shahrukh, known for his aggressive batting, unleashed his power with expansive drives and hooks, amassing 86 runs off 114 deliveries. Jagadeesan, the Tamil Nadu skipper, played a more measured innings, accumulating 56 runs off 117 balls. Their 137-run stand provided a solid platform for the team.However, Railways bowlers managed to break the partnership, dismissing Shahrukh and Jagadeesan in quick succession. Vijay Shankar and Pradosh Ranjan Paul also fell cheaply, leaving TN at 160 for four.Undeterred, C. Andre Siddarth stepped up and consolidated the innings. He formed two crucial partnerships, first with Paul (38) and then with S. Mohamed Ali (37 batting). Siddarth's 78 runs off 133 deliveries, characterized by precise ground strokes and off-side boundaries, proved invaluable.Despite Railways' efforts to regain momentum, TN's batters remained resolute. Kunal Yadav's late wickets of Siddarth and R. Sonu Yadav could not prevent TN from extending their lead.Railways bowlers toiled hard throughout the day, but luck seemed to elude them. Several close lbw and caught-behind appeals went unanswered, and some chances were missed in the slip cordon.As the match enters its third day, TN holds a clear advantage. Their substantial lead and four wickets in hand give them the upper hand. Railways, on the other hand, will need to produce a strong performance to turn the tide in their favor.

Railways and Tamil Nadu Clash in Crucial Ranji Trophy EncounterAs the Ranji Trophy enters its fifth round, two formidable teams, Railways and Tamil Nadu, prepare to face off in a high-stakes encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With only two points separating them in the Elite Group-D standings, this match promises to be a thrilling battle for supremacy.Tamil Nadu, led by stand-in captain N. Jagadeesan, will be without their regular skipper R. Sai Kishore, who is sidelined with a thumb injury. However, Jagadeesan remains confident in his team's ability to overcome this setback. "Everybody is motivated. The youngsters over here are pumped up and they want to do well in this platform," he said.Railways, on the other hand, has been playing some impressive cricket this season. Despite not being able to play their home matches at one ground, the experienced squad has shown resilience and determination. "Of course, it is very challenging for us. We take even a home game as an away game. So that is the mental preparation," said Railways captain Pratham Singh.Both teams have remained unbeaten so far, but a win in this match would be crucial for their aspirations. Tamil Nadu will be eager to secure a favorable result after three consecutive draws, while Railways will be keen on getting back to winning ways after stumbling to a draw against Chhattisgarh.The Ranji matches will take a break after this round, and the victor in this encounter will have the added advantage of gaining some breathing space in the tightly contested group. Currently led by Chandigarh with 19 points, the winner of this match will be well-positioned to challenge for the top spot when the domestic red-ball season resumes in late January.

In a remarkable display of power-hitting, Andhra batter Vamshhi Krrishna etched his name into the record books by becoming only the fourth Indian batsman to smash six sixes in an over during a Col CK Nayudu Trophy match against Railways in Kadapa on Wednesday.Krrishna's extraordinary feat, achieved on the fourth and final day of the encounter, saw him collect a staggering 36 runs in a single over bowled by Damandeep Singh. The right-handed batsman's breathtaking 64-ball 110 innings was highlighted by this stunning exhibition of clean striking.Krrishna's assault on Damandeep began with a slog-sweep that sailed over the deep mid-wicket fence. He then went downtown on the second ball, launching it over the long-on boundary. The third ball of the over was met with a powerful smash over the deep fence once again.The fourth and fifth deliveries of the over witnessed Krrishna's continued dominance, as he executed another slog sweep over the deep fence and a conventional sweep over the deep square-leg boundary, respectively.Krrishna capped off his extraordinary display of power-hitting by rocking onto the backfoot and clubbing the sixth ball of the over over the deep fence, leaving Damandeep shell-shocked and the crowd in awe.Despite Krrishna's heroics, the Andhra vs Railways match ended in a draw. After Railways posted a total of 378 in their first innings, Andhra responded with a mammoth 865 for 9, setting the stage for Krrishna's record-breaking feat.Krrishna's achievement places him in an elite group of Indian batsmen who have achieved the rare feat of hitting six sixes in an over. He joins the ranks of Ravi Shastri (1985), Yuvraj Singh (2007), and Ruturaj Gaikwad (2022), who have all accomplished this remarkable feat in the past.