Hemanth Kumar, Madanagopal prop up Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu batsmen Hemanth Kumar and JR Madanagopal were in fine form on the third day of their South Zone Ranji Trophy league match against Kerala at Kochi on Friday. The added 168 runs for the third wicket to help their team to score 204 for four in reply to Kerala's first innings total of 206 by close of play.

The second day's play had been washed out but when play resumed this morning medium pacer Tinu Yohannan dismissed both the openers Rajat Bhatia and Badrinath in successive overs. Coming together at 25 for two, Madanagopal and Hemanth Kumar initiated the recovery process by some confident batting. Their association lasted 80.2 overs before Madanagopal was caught by Kamaruddin off CP Menon for 84. Madanagopal batted 5-1/2 hours, faced 222 balls and hit a four and two sixes. Off the final ball of the day, Vidyuth Sivaramakrishnan (5) was caught by Kamaruddin off CP Menon, giving the Kerala wicketkeeper his third catch of the day. But Hemant Kumar, showing deep concentration, came through unbeaten at the end of the day. For his 84, he has so far faced 283 balls and hit three fours. Yohannan (2 for 37) and Menon (2 for 17) shared the wickets.