The cutting edge or incision was absent. Additionally, pressure from both ends could not be sustained. Tamil Nadu put out a valiant effort and maintained its composure, but it was unable to put Andhra under enough pressure to limit them, who advanced to 277 for five on Day One of the Elite ‘B’ Ranji Trophy encounter.
At the Ramakrishna stadium, Tamil Nadu scored late on Tuesday when left-arm spinner Sai Kishore tempted Ricky Bhui (68, 110b, 9×4, 1×6) and had the batter stumped. Bhui and Karan Shinde (55 batting, 114 batting, 7×4, 1×6) put up 119 in 209 balls for the fifth wicket after a valiant effort.
Bhui is a good striker who has improved with age, giving his variety of strokes more steadiness. Shinde, who is left-handed, hit the ball with precision and style in square-driving and straight-driving.
The crucial player Hanuma Vihari had just left, and Tamil Nadu’s fielders and bowlers were fired up, but they encountered the Bhui-Shinde wall. After choosing to bat, Andhra’s opener U.M.S. Girinath was bowled with a Sai Kishore ball that had some bounce but kept its line.
Tamil Nadu was unable to advance farther on a surface with little room for pacemen to deviate. Andhra managed to form an alliance by resisting the host with the help of the tenacious Abhishek Reddy and the tenacious Sheikh Rasheed.
Abhishek, a disciplined player with an attacking mentality, struck Sai Kishore for two consecutive sixes by being aggressive in the region between midwicket and fine-leg. The 95-run (190b) second wicket connection was broken by rookie left-arm spinner Ajith Ram when he yorked Rasheed (37).
Sandeep Warrier, who was summoned back by Indrajith as captain, caught Abhishek who was fending off the ball. Abhishek’s 85 (129b, 8×4, 2×6) was a good innings, nonetheless.
Vihari was mostly responsible for Andhra’s batting, however he left quickly after pulling seamer Vijay Shankar, causing the ball to bounce over the shoulder of short-leg and land at square-leg, where Ajith Ram made a brilliant catch. However, Tamil Nadu was unable to complete the innings.