When the fourth day started on Friday between Tamil Nadu and Andhra on the Ramakrishna College Grounds, every little thing was pointing in the direction of an outright winner until the tip of the day. And the favorites within the ultimate day’s play had been the hosts Tamil Nadu. Leading by 114 runs, Andhra had six wickets in hand and considered one of their pacers had a fractured finger. The pitch had nearly every little thing – bounce, flip and it was exhibiting indicators of damage and tear with a number of cracks within the center.
Andhra will set them a goal of 203.
Such alternatives not often come for Tamil Nadu. Whatever assets he has in whiteball, he has numerous work to do in Ranji Trophy, particularly with the ball, as taking 20 opposition wickets has been a problem.
Here, throughout each the innings, their bowlers carried out brilliantly. He ensured that Andhra didn’t run away with the sport because the day started at 162/5 earlier than being dismissed for 250 with left-arm spinner Ravishrinivasan Sai Kishore taking figures of 5/88 within the second innings. And as Tien made his method again to the dressing room, he was suitably boisterous.
At 4:52, who knew that there could be nothing however silence and surprised faces. Certainly not at 3 PM, even when Baba Indrajith was declared LBW to offie Shoaib Mohammad Khan, Tamil Nadu had been positioned at 155/4.
thrilling ending
They wanted solely 48 extra runs with six wickets in hand. And till Indrajit was dismissed – a debated choice – the hosts had been cruising. The solely bowler who was troubling them was off-spinner Shoaib, a well-recognized face to the Tamil Nadu gamers.
The 31-year-old plies his commerce for Swaraj CC within the TNCA First Division. The son of former India hockey participant late Usman Khan, who died earlier this 12 months, Shoaib was introduced up in Chennai. His alma mater St. Bede’s School in Chennai has produced a few of the finest TN cricketers. During his faculty days, Shoaib was senior to the likes of Indrajit, Baba Aparajit, Washington Sundar and enjoys rapport with the likes of Sai Kishore, Vijay Shankar, L Vignesh amongst others.
“(Hanuma) Vihari informed us to set a goal of no less than one run above 200 as a result of psychologically it creates an affect. He stated do not compromise even on 199 and I’ll see the remainder. But when Tamil Nadu was reaching 150/3, our shoulders had been beginning to collapse and fortuitously I eliminated Indrajeet simply earlier than tea,” stated Shoaib.
“So once we talked within the dressing room, I used to be telling those that it’s nonetheless doable to win. It was flip and we solely wanted three wickets – Vijay, Washington and Pradosh Ranjan Paul – as a result of we knew his tail was weak. Kishore may have batted nevertheless it’s a distinct sport with strain on him, plus I used to be going to bowl to him (laughs),” Shoaib stated.
The 31-year-old plies his commerce for Swaraj CC within the TNCA First Division. (Express picture)
So even when play resumed within the ultimate session, TN remained favourites. But as Vijay and Pradosh stored getting dismissed in successive overs, the tide began turning. And by the point Sai Kishor died leaving TN at 163/7, it was left to Washington to bail him out.
“Vihari informed us to not panic and simply decide up these three wickets. We had been assured that even when solely 10 runs had been scored they usually had been tails, we may nonetheless win the sport. It was all about sustaining self-discipline and with (KV) Shashikant offering the proper help from the opposite finish, my job turned simpler,” Shoaib stated.
Vihari was equally good about his area placement. He lower the ball quick from quick bowler Shashikant and put 4 fielders on the leg-side for a boundary and a brief mid-wicket throughout play. As boundaries remained elusive for TN, and Shoaib labored a good line, Andhra progressed with each over.
While the off-spinner bowled unchanged from one finish and picked up six wickets, TN simply buckled beneath the strain. “We could not put pressure on him until the ball got old. Once we did, we did not take the pedal off the foot,” stated Shoaib.
And then there was additionally a bit of luck. When Washington and No. 10 Ajit Ram had been selecting up singles effortlessly and driving them nearer to the goal – simply eight quick – the previous was caught behind off Shoaib. The batsman objected and took an eternity to get going. “I do not know if I’m allowed to say however there was no nick. But earlier, Sai Sudarshan had taken an edge and that was not given. So I took it again on the very second it mattered Was,” Shoaib stated.
And by the point Washington pulled Shashikant to the arms of the fine-leg fielder, TN ended eight runs quick as they confronted defeat towards all former pointers.
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
