Lokesh hits unbeaten century as TN pile up runs

Tamil Nadu, thanks principally to an unbeaten 120 by N Lokesh, were 297 for four wickets at stumps on the first day of their three day KSCA Coca Cola Cup (under-25) tournament in Bangalore on Wednesday.

Opting to bat, Tamil Nadu were given a good start with openers Ravindra John (69) and SP Lakshmi Kumar (6) putting on 63 runs off 20.3 overs. John who dominated the scoring was second out at 102 in the 32nd over. He faced 110 balls and hit 11 of them to the ropes.

Lokesh, who had come in at the fall of the first wicket, added 39 runs for the second wicket off 11 overs with John. He was then concerned in three more fruitful partnerships. First with Noorul Riaz (18) he added 53 runs for the third wicket off 26 overs. Then with J Harish (36) he was concerned in a fourth wicket stand of 81 runs off 21 overs. And finally, Lokesh and Surendra Doss (38 not out) put on 61 runs for the unbroken fifth wicket off 13.2 overs. By close, Lokesh had batted 270 minutes and faced 174 balls, hitting 14 of them to the ropes.