The last day of the Group C Ranji Trophy Super League match between
Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh at Kanpur on Thursday assumed farcical
proportions. The match ended in a tame draw. Tamil Nadu picked up
five points to finish with 26 while Uttar Pradesh got three to end
with 22.
After scoring close to 700 runs in their first innings, Tamil Nadu
made a meal of their second stint at the crease. The match was all but
over before they came out to bat. With nothing to play for, Tamil Nadu
were all out for 264 in the second innings. Hemang Badani who made 62
in the first innings helped himself to a hundred while wickets fell
around him. Trailing by 733 with just 14 overs to play, Uttar Pradesh
rightly saw no point in sending their openers out to bat. Instead,
tailenders Mrithyunjay Tripathi and Musi Raza came out and made 28
runs without being troubled.
Sridharan Sriram, who was not out on zero at the end of the third day,
was called away on national duty and could not take the crease on the
final day. Sriram has been drafted into the Indian one-day
squad. Sadagoppan Ramesh batted at No 8, instead of opening the
innings.
Reuben Paul, the Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper bowling an over just about
summed up the farcical nature of the last day's play.