Pradosh’s unbeaten 138 puts Tamil Nadu in control at Sector-16

Pradosh Ranjan Paul scored an unbeaten 138 to anchor Tamil Nadu in their Ranji Trophy Elite Group D match against Chandigarh at the Sector-16 Stadium on Monday.

The visitors had elected to bat on a greenish surface and, about 30 minutes into the second session, head coach Yo Mahesh pleaded with Pradosh and B. Indrajith: “Neenga kadasi varikum aadamum (you must stay there till the end of the day’s play).” Pradosh walked in at No. 3 after the dismissal of Vimal Khumar.

Pradosh’s innings was measured and patient; he made 138 off 215 balls with 12 fours and reached his 10th First Class century with a cover-drive for four off Rohit Dhanda. He defended solidly, kept the ball close to his body and employed the sweep repeatedly against the left-arm spinners.

A key aspect of the knock was running between the wickets, which sustained two major partnerships: a 139-run third-wicket stand with B. Indrajith and an unbroken 66-run fifth-wicket stand with G. Ajitesh, who finished on 34 and remained unbeaten.

N. Jagadeesan contributed 52 (88b, 8x4) before being bowled by Bhagmender Lather in the latter’s first over, while Indrajith made 51 and was recorded as c & b Nishunk. Indrajith became the Tamil Nadu batter with most Ranji half-centuries (30), surpassing S. Sharath and Hemang Badani (29).

The scorecard for Tamil Nadu read: Vimal Khumar c Arjit b Nikhil 11, N. Jagadeesan b Bhagmender 52, Pradosh Ranjan Paul (batting) 138, B. Indrajith c & b Nishunk 51, Andre Siddarth c & b Bhagmender 13, G. Ajitesh (batting) 34; Extras (b-8, lb-7, nb-3, w-3): 21. Fall of wickets: 1-38, 2-92, 3-231, 4-254.

Chandigarh’s bowling figures were: Jagjit 12-3-38-0, Nikhil 10-0-34-1, Rohit 19-2-81-0, Nishunk 18-0-63-1, Bhagmender 16-2-47-2, Chiragvir 10-0-41-0, Arjun 1-0-1-0.

At the close of play Tamil Nadu were 320 for four in 86 overs.