Ranji Trophy: Andhra keep Tamil Nadu at bay

CHENNAI: A resurgent 116-run stand for the sixth wicket between B Sumanth (72 n.o, 4x4) and Ashwin Hebbar (64, 8x4, 1x6) helped Andhra take a 55-run first innings lead in their Group C Ranji Trophy clash against Tamil Nadu at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Saturday. Sumanth and Ashwin came together when half of Andhra's side was back in the pavilion with just 64 on the board. The two chose to bat the old-fashioned way and grind the opposition.While Hebbar was the aggressor of the two, Sumanth was dealing in ones and twos.
Tamil Nadu were guilty of dropping Hebbar on 13 when Washington Sundar - stationed at deep mid-wicket - missed an easy opportunity off R Ashwin (2-51). Andhra were 82 for 5 at that point of time. Barring that blemish, the Hebbar-Sumanth duo looked largely untroubled despite the Tamil Nadu attack bowling a tidy line. "The wicket is on the slower side but is still a very good one to bat on. It is all about staying at the crease and biding your time. We are looking to bat as long as possible on the third day," said Sumanth, at the end of the day's play.
The day commenced with the hosts breathing fire right at the start. The very second over of the day saw medium-pacer L Vignesh (2-36) dismiss Andhra opener DB Prasanth (1), caught by Indrajith at second slip. L Vignesh then accounted for Andhra skipper Hanuma Vihari (3) with a ball that shaped away and Aparajith completed a simple catch at first slip. Ricky Bhui (22, 4x4) and Srikar Bharat (32, 3x4, 2x6) added 28 for the third wicket before K Vignesh (2-46) had the former caught by Aparajith at gully region.
The experienced Ashwin looked sharp from the word go. Ashwin got rid of Venugopal Rao (3) - caught at point region by Rahil Shah - in the second over he bowled. Ashwin then had Bharat stumped by Jagadeesan to a delivery that drifted away from the right-hander, leaving Andhra in a spot of bother. Ashwin's first spell read an impressive 10-7-9-2 even though he was brought into the attack after almost 90 minutes of play. The Andhra batsman failed to read him during that spell before lunch and the picture could have been different had Washington held on to the chance offered by Hebbar. Tamil Nadu coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar chose not to dwell much on the missed opportunity.
"Yes, it would have made (a difference had that catch been taken), but those things are part and parcel of the game. Their batsmen applied themselves well and kept the singles coming which made a lot of difference," Kanitkar said.
With the game drifting away, Tamil Nadu will have to take the remaining wickets quickly on Day 3 to nurse any hopes of making a match of it.