Kousik, Malolan tons drive TN surge

Maiden centuries from J Kousik and Malolan Rangarajan took Tamil Nadu's score past 500 after resuming the day on 225 for 5 in Indore.

Kousik and Malolan put on 196 runs for the seventh wicket, after Prasanna was caught behind for 70 off Udit Birla in the 17th over of the day. Kousik, playing only his second first-class match, scored 151 off 272 balls, including 17 fours and two sixes. Malolan, who remained unbeaten on 124 at close, faced 226 balls and hit seven fours and three sixes.

Kousik, who reached his century with a six off offspinner Jalaj Saxena, said the first hour and a half was "uncomfortable" to negotiate . "I was getting beaten a lot of times early on today," he told ESPNcricinfo. "But then the wicket eased out a bit and runs started coming a little more freely. My partners [R Prasanna and Malolan] were very helpful.

"I was a little anxious in the 90s and eager to get to my 100 quickly as they were bowling tight. Thankfully, I got the right ball to hit," Kousik said.

Malolan said the innings was particularly challenging as he played through high fever. "The pitch still has a nice covering of green on it," he said. "We [he and Kousik] were constantly talking to each other, [urging each other to take it] one ball at a time."

Malolan also praised Kousik's temperament. "It was unbelievable how calm he was for his second match," he said. "We played for Vijay CC together about two years back. Kousik has just gone from strength to strength. It was a green wicket and he had to stand up today. He showed excellent composure," Malolan said.

Deepak Hooda's third first-class hundred led a dominant batting display from Baroda, giving them a 282-run first-innings lead over Railways. Resuming with the score on 118 for 1, opener Kedar Devdhar and captain Aditya Waghmode stretched their second-wicket stand to 113, after which Waghmode and Hooda added another 124. Hooda faced 179 balls for his 122 and hit 20 fours and two sixes. Railways were at the receiving end of a third successive century stand when Hooda combined with Yusuf Pathan for a 111-run partnership. Seamer Anureet Singh picked up four wickets but Hardik Pandya's unbeaten 41 set Baroda's sights on a 300-run surplus, with four wickets still remaining.

Andhra replied strongly to Gujarat's 308 in Vizianagram, opener Srikar Bharat's century helping them reach 196 for 1 at stumps. After his opening partner Prasanth Kumar departed for 12, Bharat put on an unbroken 159 with his captain Mohammad Kaif. Bharat, who had become the first wicketkeeper previous season to make a triple-hundred in the Ranji Trophy, hit 18 fours and a six to reach 119 off 176, while Kaif had six fours in his 44.

Bharat said he had to negotiate "brilliant spells" from RP Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, before finding his rhythm. "They are quite opposite - RP gets it into the right hander and Jasprit is little quick off the wicket with short pitch stuff," Bharat told ESPNcricinfo. "RP was bowling [from] round the wicket with a short leg and a short midwicket and a long leg, attacking me both with the short ball and the one that comes in."

Bharat said he took an off stump guard on Kaif's advice, and things became easier. "I made sure, I will play close to the body and anything short I will leave it," he said.

Earlier, Baroda resumed on 250 for 5 and were bowled out for 308. Left-arm seamer CV Stephen took three of the five wickets to fall, including two in two deliveries in the 92nd over, when he dismissed Niraj Patel to break a 61-run sixth-wicket stand.

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