Published: Dec 24, 2018, 09:01 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 24, 2018, 09:01 PM (IST)
Abhinav Mukund made an unbeaten 111 on Monday to lead Tamil Nadu’s fightback after conceding a first innings lead of 236 runs to Himachal Pradesh on the third day of the Ranji Trophy, Elite Group B match.
In their second outing, TN were 178/2.
On the way to his ton, Mukund surpassed Sridharan Sharath (6597) as the highest run-scorer for Tamil Nadu in Ranji Trophy. The knock has kept his team in the hunt after conceding a massive lead. The left-handed batsman has so far struck 16 boundaries.
Earlier, Himachal, resuming at the overnight 240 for 5, added 223 runs with Ankit Kalsi moving from 99 to 144 not out.
Rishi Dhawan could score only four more runs after resuming at 71 but the lower order helped the centurion extend the team’s lead.
For Tamil Nadu, left-arm paceman T Natarajan finished with five for 122. HP were dismissed for 463 in 116.2 overs.
Beginning the second innings with a huge deficit, the visitors suffered an early setback when Dinesh Karthik pushed up the order, was sent packing by Pankaj Jaiswal for 1 with the score at 5 for 1.
Baba Aparajith joined forces with Mukund and added 85 runs as the visitors looked intent to occupy the crease.
Aparajith was caught behind by Prashant Chopra for 24 off Raghav Dhawan but skipper Baba Indrajith and Mukund ensured that the team did not suffer any further losses.
Mukund and Indrajith (36 batting) have added 88 runs and will look to bat big if Tamil Nadu hopes to deny Himachal an outright win.
Brief Scores: Tamil Nadu 227 (B Aparajith 53; Pankaj Jaiswal 3/45) and 178/2 (Abhinav Mukund 111P) trail Himachal Pradesh 463 (Ankit Kalsi 144*, Rishi Dhawan 75, Raghav Dhawan 71, T Natarajan 5 /122) by 58 runs
