da prosport bet： After making heavy weather of a target of 172 off50 overs, Tamil Nadu managed to edge past Andhraby two wickets in their South Zone Ranji One-Dayencounter at the CPT-India Pistons Ground atChennai
Anand Vasu08-Dec-2000After making heavy weather of a target of 172 off50 overs, Tamil Nadu managed to edge past Andhraby two wickets in their South Zone Ranji One-Dayencounter at the CPT-India Pistons Ground atChennai. On winning the toss, Andhra skipper ASPathak elected to bat first on a slow wicket. Thisturned out to be a good decision for the skipper,but not necessarily so for the team. Opening theinnings for the visiting side, Pathak made asteady 80 (100 balls, 9 fours) before he was runout by substitute fielder R Satish.Unfortunately there was no serious support forPathak other than a innings of 32 from FaiyazAhmed. With seven batsmen failing to make it todouble figures, Andhra slumped to 171 all out in49.2 overs. Chasing a target of 172 should nothave been a tall order for the Tamil Nadu side.However, they have not been in the best of battingform in the tournament and this hampered them.Free stroking southpaw Sridharan Sharath openedthe innings and looked to get his eye in. After hewas well set he began to open up, driving the ballwell square of the wicket. After making anenterprising 47, he departed, falling tooffspinner Vatekar. The middle order failed yetagain and a mini collapse was at hand. At 114 for6, it looked like Andhra would pull off an upsetvictory.Aashish Kapoor and Thirunavukarasu Kumaran ensuredthat this did not happen. Batting sensibly, Kapoormanaged 19 from 26 balls before being trapped legbefore wicket by Vatekar. At this stage Tamil Naduwere 144 for 8 and there was still a bit of workto be done. Kumaran mixed a cautious straight batwith several well placed heaves and Tamil Naduwere nearly home. A frantically scampered leg byeoff the third ball of the last over took the homeside to victory by just two wickets.Tamil Nadu take on an inform Hyderabad tomorrow,and will have to do much better if they want tocome out of the game with a positive result.