Tamil Nadu top order clicks

The Tamil Nadu top order clicked in a major way on Saturday, the opening day of their Group C Ranji Trophy Super League match against Saurashtra at the MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai. Put in to bat by Sitanshu Kotak, Tamil Nadu's way of saying `thank you' was to run up a score of 348 for four at stumps.

Opener Anand George was the only batsman to fail. He scored only six as Tamil Nadu lost their first wicket at 26 in the sixth over. For the rest of the day, the hosts dominated. First Aashish Kapoor and S Sriram added 69 runs for the second wicket off 14.5 overs. Kapoor then left for a bright 59 off just 60 balls. He hit nine fours. Sriram and Hemang Badani then consolidated with a third wicket partnership of 119 runs off 32.4 overs. The left handed Sriram was unlucky to miss his century by two runs for at 98 he was adjudged leg before to Bambhaniya. Sriram faced 144 balls and hit 12 of them to the ropes. There was no respite for Saurashtra even after Sriram's departure. For Badani and Sridharan Sarath then got together for a fourth wicket association that realised 84 runs off 25 overs. Badani was then dismissed for 86. He faced 177 balls and hit six fours and two sixes. Sarath and JR Madanagopal (18) then put on another 50 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket off 12 overs. At stumps the in form Sarath was batting with 58. The left hander faced 113 balls and hit seven fours.