Tamil Nadu clinch U-23 title with six-wicket outright win at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium

Tamil Nadu u-23 defeated Rest of India u-23 by six wickets at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday to secure the U-23 title with an outright victory. Chasing 149 in 46 overs for an outright win, Tamil Nadu reached 150 for 4 in 34.5 overs to claim the trophy.

Tamil Nadu had taken a first-innings lead after posting 462, while Rest of India were dismissed for 179 in their opening innings, forcing Rest of India to bat again. Rest of India declared their second innings at 431 for 7 in 90 overs in an attempt to set up a result.

Rest of India’s second-innings total was built around a double century from opener Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who made 203 off 281 balls with 16 fours and four sixes, and a century from Digvijay Patil, who scored 106 off 138 balls with eight fours. The two shared a 249-run third-wicket stand, and Ayush Jethwa contributed 58 in the reply.

The pitch was described as one that turned throughout and kept low at times, and Raghuvanshi’s innings ended shortly after he reached his double hundred; having brought up the landmark with a single over sweeper cover, he holed out to deep midwicket. Rest of India lost five wickets for 32 runs late in the innings before opting to declare.

Left-arm spinner P. Vignesh was the main wicket-taker for Tamil Nadu, finishing with figures of five for 144; his victims included Raghuvanshi. Those returns were the principal bowling contribution that limited Rest of India after their big partnership.

Tamil Nadu’s chase included “a few hiccups,” but Rest of India did not mount a sustained threat to overturn the lead. K.T.A. Madhava Prasad scored 42 in the run chase as Tamil Nadu reached the target inside 35 overs.

The outright victory secured the U-23 title for Tamil Nadu. PoM: Madhava Prasad.