RS Jaganath Sinivas

Middle order batsman S Tarun’s 104 (140b, 4x9, 6x4) was the only bright spot on a bleak day for Andhra in their Elite Group A league match against Tamil Nadu in the Col CK Nayudu Trophy U-25 tournament in Puducherry.

India's latest pace sensation T Natarajan has been released from the Tamil Nadu squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy as the BCCI wants him to stay fresh for the limited-overs series against England next month, a top TNCA official said on Thursday.

Baba Aparajith (104 batting) and Ankit Bawne (110 batting) put together an unbroken 203-run stand for the third wicket to help Jolly Rovers call the shots on Day 1 at 266-2 in their TNCA first division semifinal clash against Vijay CC on Thursday. While Aparajith’s 264-ball essay was studded with 11 fours and a six, his partner’s 212-ball knock had 9 boundaries and a six.

Jolly Rovers had Vijay CC in a spot of bother at the end of Day 2 of their TNCA first division semifinals here on Friday. B Aparajith (170) and Ankit Bawne were instrumental in Jolly Rovers scoring 388 in their opening essay. In reply, Vijay CC were in trouble at 86 for 5.

If Jolly Rovers' B Anirudh Sitaram headlined the opening day of the TNCA first division final against Alwarpet CC with a patient knock of 98, it was the turn of his teammates B Indrajith (112 n.o.) and Ankit Bawne (100 n.o.) to come to the party on Day 2 on Thursday.

Jolly Rovers won the TNCA first division league by virtue of a 117-run first innings lead in their drawn final at the IIT-Chemplast ground here on Friday afternoon.

The 22-year-old Anirudh, who played a pivotal part in Hyderabad’s run to the quarterfinals during the last Ranji Trophy season, was included in the TNCA City XI for the upcoming Buchi Babu tournament.

The slender possibility that Tamil Nadu had of qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Ranji Trophy dissipated on the third day of their clash against Saurashtra as Karnataka, Bengal and Andhra sealed their berths on Friday.

The player's draft for the fifth season of TNPL went on expected lines. The only two to feature in category A - players with international experience - Vijay Shankar and Abhinav Mukund were bagged by Salem Spartans and Tiruppur Tamizhans respectively.