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.

Tamil Nadu's N. Jagadeesan continued his impressive form in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-D match against Assam, notching up his second century of the season. The Tamil Nadu vice-captain remained unbeaten on 118 (188b, 9x4, 1x6) as he and Pradosh Ranjan Paul (68 not out, 112b, 5x4) guided the team to a draw.Assam had piled up 445 in reply to Tamil Nadu's first-innings total of 338. The visiting team began the final day 99 runs in arrears and saw Jagadeesan's opening partner, S. Lokeshwar, fall to pacer Mukhtar Hussain for three.Experienced all-rounder Vijay Shankar joined Jagadeesan at the crease, and the duo set about reducing the deficit. They adopted a cautious approach, playing shots only when the bowlers erred in line and length.Jagadeesan, though initially uncomfortable against left-arm pacer Mrinmoy Dutta, showed patience and determination. He added 54 runs for the second wicket with Shankar (23) before Swarupam Purkayastha dismissed the latter.Pradosh, who joined Jagadeesan, proved an ideal partner. They blunted the Assam bowlers, occasionally being beaten by good deliveries but persevering for an unbroken 144-run third-wicket partnership.Jagadeesan showcased his class with some impressive shots, including a towering six off off-spinner Purkayastha. Pradosh also contributed with several boundaries, helping Tamil Nadu erase the deficit and secure a draw.Jagadeesan's century was his 10th in First-Class cricket, and he also surpassed the 3,000-run mark in the Ranji Trophy during the innings.

Assam's skipper Denish Das led a spirited fightback against Tamil Nadu in the Ranji Trophy Elite Group-D match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. Resuming their first innings at 299 for seven, Tamil Nadu added 39 runs before being dismissed for 338.Das, batting at number four, anchored Assam's innings with an unbeaten half-century (54 off 116 balls). He forged a crucial 71-run partnership with southpaw Sibsankar Roy (23 not out) to guide the hosts to 176 for three at the end of the second day's play.Earlier, Tamil Nadu's S. Mohamed Ali (49 not out) and R. Sonu Yadav (29) extended their partnership to 63 runs before Mrinmoy Dutta broke the stand by having Sonu caught by Sibsankar Roy. The innings then ended swiftly, as Gurjapneet Singh and 16-year-old debutant R.D. Pranav Ragavendra failed to trouble the scorers.Assam's openers Parvej Musaraf (18) and Rishav Das (54) began well, adding 49 runs before Sonu broke through by trapping Musaraf leg-before. Rishav, who was in search of runs, put on 40 runs with Subham Mandal before being dismissed by Mohamed Ali for a well-compiled 54 (89b, 7x4).Denish Das then took charge, compiling a patient unbeaten 54 to put Assam in a strong position. He and Sibsankar Roy defied the opposition bowlers till the close of play, frustrating Tamil Nadu's hopes of any further wickets.

Tamil Nadu, a formidable force in domestic cricket, will seek redemption when they face Assam in a crucial Ranji Trophy Elite Group 'D' match at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. The visitors, who suffered a setback in their previous fixture, will be bolstered by the return of their regular captain, R. Sai Kishore.Tamil Nadu's batting lineup has been in fine form, with all-rounder Vijay Shankar making a match-saving century in their last outing. Despite the absence of B. Sai Sudharsan and B. Indrajith, who are representing India-A in Australia, the team possesses ample firepower to dominate Assam. Opener N. Jagadeesan, Pradosh Ranjan Paul, and newcomer C. Andre Siddarth have all been among the runs.However, the bowlers will be eager to make amends after a disappointing performance in their third-round match, where they conceded the first-innings lead. Sai Kishore's presence adds teeth to the attack, and it remains to be seen if the side opts for a spin-heavy approach. Strapping left-arm pacer Gurjapneet Singh, who was rested for the previous game, will be raring to go against an Assam batting unit that has struggled for consistency.Sumit Ghadigaonkar has been the lone bright spot for the home team, amassing 352 runs so far. He will need to continue his good form if Assam hopes to provide meaningful competition.Tamil Nadu, currently third in the group with 11 points, will be gunning for a win as the race for knockout berths intensifies. A victory would strengthen their position and boost their chances of advancing to the next stage.

Chhattisgarh, known for its gritty and determined approach, has taken a commanding lead in their third-round Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu. On the second day of the contest at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground, Chhattisgarh posted a formidable total of 500 in their first innings, putting themselves in a strong position to secure a victory.The Chhattisgarh innings was anchored by a solid opening partnership between Ayush Pandey (124) and Rishabh Tiwari (46). However, it was the middle-order batters who truly shone, with Anuj Tiwari (84), Sanjeet Desai (82), and K.D. Eknath (52) all contributing substantial scores. Ajay Mandal's aggressive 64, which included two sixes, further boosted the team's total.Tamil Nadu's bowlers struggled to contain Chhattisgarh's relentless batting onslaught. Ajith Ram, the left-arm spinner, was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four wickets for 132 runs. However, his efforts were not enough to prevent Chhattisgarh from amassing a massive score.In reply, Tamil Nadu ended the day at 23 for one, with opener S. Lokeshwar falling cheaply to off-spinner Jeevesh Butte. The home team faces an uphill task in the remaining two days of the match, needing to score heavily and avoid a defeat.The pitch at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground has remained good for batting, but there were signs of the odd ball turning sharply in the final hour of play. This could provide some hope for Tamil Nadu's spinners as they look to restrict Chhattisgarh's lead.

Tamil Nadu, buoyed by its impressive start to the Ranji Trophy campaign, will face Chhattisgarh in a crucial third-round match (Elite Group D) at the Sri Ramakrishna College Ground on Saturday.After crushing Saurashtra by an innings in the season opener, TN came within two wickets of another innings victory against Delhi. Only fading light and some questionable time-wasting tactics by the Delhi lower-order prevented N. Jagadeesan's men from securing seven points.The southern side has established Coimbatore as its fortress, winning its last four encounters at this venue by an innings. It will aim to extend this successful run against Chhattisgarh.However, the home team will face some forced changes due to the departure of Washington Sundar (India), B. Sai Sudharsan, and B. Indrajith (both India-A) for national duties. The management must find an opening partner for skipper Jagadeesan, while all-rounder Vijay Shankar and M. Boopathi Vaishna Kumar could slot into the middle-order.With the pitch expected to favor spinners, TN may consider resting one of its pacers and playing an extra tweaker. "We are extremely proud of the brand of cricket we played. Even in the last match, we bowled nearly 190 overs over two days and maintaining the same energy was a task, but everyone did it," said Jagadeesan.Chhattisgarh, on the other hand, will be eager to earn some points after managing just two so far. The Amandeep Khare-led side has the depth in its lineup to challenge the hosts. Most of the batters have runs under their belt, and the outfit boasts a decent spin attack led by Ajay Mandal.In the previous game against Saurashtra, Khare slammed a brilliant double-century while Sanjeet Desai scored a ton. However, the in-form TN bowlers in their backyard will pose a sterner test, and how the visitor's batters tackle them could determine the course of the contest.

Sanat Sangwan's defiant 83 and Navdeep Saini's strategic time-wasting tactics helped Delhi escape with a draw in their second-round Ranji Trophy match against Tamil Nadu at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Monday.Delhi, asked to follow on after conceding a 408-run first-innings lead, faced a daunting task of seeing out 85 overs to avoid an innings defeat. The visitors, led by N. Jagadeesan, were determined to force a result, but Delhi's resilience proved too strong.Sangwan played a pivotal role in Delhi's resistance, consuming 231 deliveries and frustrating the Tamil Nadu bowlers. His innings, which included 10 fours and a six, kept the visitors at bay for over six hours.As the shadows lengthened, Delhi's hopes of a draw rested on the shoulders of Saini and Himanshu Chauhan. With two wickets in hand and just two overs remaining, Tamil Nadu sensed an opportunity. However, Saini's clever time-wasting tactics, including a comical display of injury after being hit on the head, allowed Delhi to survive the final onslaught.Tamil Nadu's bowlers, led by Washington Sundar and S. Ajith Ram, had earlier put in a dominant performance, restricting Delhi to 266 in their first innings. Gurjapneet Singh and Sonu Yadav also chipped in with two wickets each.In their second innings, Delhi lost early wickets but Sangwan's marathon knock steadied the ship. Himmat Singh (36) and Jonty Sidhu (23) provided valuable support, but it was Saini's unbeaten 15 that ultimately sealed the draw.Tamil Nadu, despite their first-innings advantage, were left to rue their missed opportunities. Their decision to bat for a mammoth total in the first innings may have backfired, as it gave Delhi ample time to recover in the second innings.