Tamil Nadu well placed despite Rathour's heroics

Punjab captain Vikram Rathour led a gallant Punjab fightback on the penultimate day of their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal tie against Tamil Nadu at the MA Chidambaram stadium on Sunday. But the hosts were still poised for a berth in the semifinal by close of play. Punjab, 203 runs in arrears on the first innings, scored 366 the second time around thanks in the main to Rathour's marathon 127 which lasted 505 minutes. Requiring 164 runs for victory, Tamil Nadu at stumps were 30 for one. And even though the batsmen out is the in form Sridharam Sriram, they should fancy their chances of getting the remaining 134 runs with nine wickets in hand on the final day on Monday on a wicket that is still playing reasonably well.

Punjab, 127 for two overnight, lost two more wickets fairly early in the morning. Pankaj Dharmani was caught behind by Reuben Paul off Kumaran for 15 and then Youraj Singh after a bright 24 off 35 balls with four boundaries and a six. He dominated a fourth wicket stand of 41 runs off 10.2 overs with Rathour.

Punjab's hopes were lifted with Rathour and Dinesh Mongia (35) adding 64 runs for the fifth wicket off 25.5 overs. Mongia, who faced 94 balls and hit five of them to the ropes, was then caught by Reuben Paul off Badani. A little later, Sanjay Sharma was bowled middle stump by Sriram for a duck and Punjab were down in the dumps at six down for 278 - lead of only 75.

But Rathour soldiered on and with Sandeep Sharma again revived Punjab's hopes. Rathour reached his century with a boundary and the two added 55 runs for the seventh wicket off 16 overs. Rathour, who had played the sheet anchor role to perfection now was a bit more aggressive before he was caught by Gokulakrishnan off Mahesh. Opening the innings, Rathour was out at 333 in the 105th over. His 262-ball knock was embellished by 14 hits to the ropes.

The captain had shown the way and now Sandeep Sharma and Sharandeep Singh got entrenched without much difficulty in an eighth wicket partnership which realised 29 runs off 7.4 overs. At 362 for seven, Punjab had a lead of 159 and a fourth innings target of around 200 loomed ahead for Tamil Nadu. However Rajath Bhatia, with a spell of three for two off 15 deliveries, hastened the end of the innings. The last two batsmen Harbhajan Singh and RP Singh both fell for ducks leaving Sandeep Sharma high and dry on 51 not out. He faced 90 balls and hit six fours. Bhatia's lucrative spell saw him finish as the most successful bowler of the innings - three for 18 off eight overs. Wicketkeeper Reuben Paul also had something to smile about - he finished with five catches.

In the Tamil Nadu second innings Sriram was caught behind for 13 with the score 22. But Sadagoppan Ramesh (11) and Hemang Badani (4) remained unbeaten at stumps.