The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : A match-up of intriguing possibilities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 13, 2004

Sport

Sport - Cricket

A match-up of intriguing possibilities

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, DEC. 12. It's a match-up with intriguing possibilities — the runner-up of the past two years, Tamil Nadu, takes on the in-form outfit, Punjab, in a Ranji Trophy Elite group `B' clash which gets underway at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Monday on a pitch not expected to be lop-sided in nature.

The Dinesh Mongia led Punjab side has clearly packed a punch this season, with 16 points from four games, with victories over Maharashtra, Assam (both wins secured with a bonus point) and Baroda, apart from gaining the first innings lead over Uttar Pradesh.

Tamil Nadu, that has figured in one match less, defeated Hyderabad with a bonus point in the opening match of its campaign, and had to be satisfied with a lead over Uttar Pradesh and Assam. Clearly, plenty is at stake for the host.

It suffered a blow ahead of the match when captain Hemang Badani, in fine form with the willow, was ruled out with a fractured right forearm.

Team coach B. Arun said the setback had only made the side's resolve stronger. "We all realise the importance of the match. The boys are even more determined now." S. Sriram will lead the team in Badani's absence.

The host's batting has been consistent. Opener Vidyut Sivaramakrishnan has found runs, the experienced S. Sharath has pulled his weight and the reliable S. Badrinath has made his presence felt. Sriram, a prolific scorer in domestic first class cricket, has not been lagging behind either. However, the side would be seeking runs from senior batsman Sadagopan Ramesh in a crucial game.

Lakshmipathy Balaji has been missed in Tamil Nadu's pace attack, although M.R. Shrinivas bowled with much heart on a placid surface in Guwahati. Left-arm spinner R. Ramkumar has been the outstanding bowler with 21 scalps in three games and could well hold the key.

C. Hemant Kumar and K. Shree Vasudeva Das will fight for the vacant slot following the injury to Badani. The side will also have to choose between pacemen C. Ganapathy and R. Jesuraj and spinners R. Raghuram (left-arm) and Arjun Sarathy (off-spin).

Punjab enters this game with its openers Ravneet Ricky and Reetinder Singh Sodhi in splendid touch; Sodhi, in fact, remained unbeaten with 251 against Maharashtra.

Pankaj Dharmani has been a source of strength for Punjab in the middle-order, where the presence of Mongia and Yuvraj Singh suggests the opposition will have to work hard.

The selection of paceman Gagandeep Singh in the Indian squad for Bangladesh has meant that Punjab will be without its strike bowler, who consumed 25 batsmen in just three games. Much of the team's hopes rest on left-arm paceman Amit Uniyal, left-arm spinner Navdeep Singh and offie Rajesh Sharma.

Said coach Intikhab Alam about Punjab's performance so far this season. "We had a 15-day camp before the season and I think the message went across strongly to the players and they responded well. Mongia, the captain, has done a good, job. It's been a collective effort."

The teams (from): Tamil Nadu: S. Sriram (captain), V. Sivaramakrishnan, S. Badrinath, S. Sharath, Vikram Kumar, S. Ramesh, R. Ramkumar, M.R. Shrinivas, C. Ganapathy, R. Jesuraj, K. Shri Vasudeva Das, C. Hemant Kumar, R. Raghuram, A. Sarathy and S. Viswanathan. Coach: B. Arun.

Punjab: D. Mongia (captain), Yuvraj Singh, R. Ricky, R. Singh Sodhi, P. Dharmani, A. Kakkar, S. Sawal, A. Uniyal, N. Singh, R. Sharma, V.R.V. Singh, G. Gupta, C. Madan. Coach: I. Alam.

Umpires: Messrs A. Bhatacharjee & Susanth Pathak; Match Referee: R.S. Rathore.

Hours of play: 9.30 a.m. to 12 noon, 12.40 p.m. to 2.40 p.m. and 3 p.m. till close of play.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport