WRECKER-IN-CHIEF: Tamil Nadu off-spinner Ashwin, who finished with figures of eleven for 151, nails Uttar Pradesh's R.P. Singh. — Photo: V. Ganesan

CHENNAI: R. Ashwin saved Tamil Nadu's blushes after Uttar Pradesh's Piyush Chawla split the fifth round Ranji Trophy Super League match wide open on the final day.

Chawla triggered a collapse on Thursday morning as Tamil Nadu slid from 144 for one at one stage to 183 for seven. The home side's innings folded finally for 223, setting Uttar Pradesh a target of 129 in 25 overs: a target it looked like chasing down before Ashwin took his second five-wicket haul for match figures of 11 for 151.

Good control

Ashwin, who had earlier bought time by frustrating Uttar Pradesh's bowlers for a crucial hour in Yomahesh's company, bowled with good control. His performance — five wickets in the space of 20 balls for just six runs — helped skipper Badrinath tie up one end, and, for a few heady moments, contemplate victory.

"I was very impressed with him," said Badrinath of the 20-year-old off spinner who forced Uttar Pradesh — 66 for one in 11.1 overs at one stage — to change its approach. S. Sharath, who has seen fourteen first class seasons, agreed.

Mohammad Kaif, so striking tactically in the first half of the day, perhaps missed a trick in choosing to open with Suresh Raina. An inexperienced batting line-up could have done with either Kaif, who has directed many successful chases, or Raina controlling things in the middle order.

Chawla impresses

Earlier, Chawla's flight and turn lured Tamil Nadu's batsmen to their downfall. Bowling around the wicket and into the rough, Chawla made excellent use of a wearing fourth-day wicket and the right-hander's blind spot.

Anirudha's 86 in the context of the game was vital, though it was his dismissal that turned what should have been a regulation almost drab final day into one of drama.

Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh with four points each are at the bottom of Group `A'. Tamil Nadu's remaining games are against Karnataka away and against Baroda at home.

The scores: Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: 325.

Uttar Pradesh — 1st innings: 420.

Tamil Nadu — 2nd innings: M. Vijay st. Amir Khan b Chawla 45, S. Anirudha c Shukla b Chawla 86, R. Prasanna lbw b Kumar 30, S. Badrinath c Kaif b Chawla 7, S. Sharath c & b Chawla 4, R. Sathish c & b Chawla 3, R. Naresh b Kumar 1, V. Yomahesh c Raina b Srivastava 16, R. Ashwin c Amir Khan b Srivastava 17, V. Kumar c Amir Khan b Srivastava 5, R. Jesuraj (not out) 0. Extras (w-1, nb-8) 9. Total (in 86 overs) 223.

Fall of wickets: 1-130, 2-144, 3-162, 4-178, 5-178, 6-183, 7-183, 8-216, 9-218.

Uttar Pradesh bowling: R.P. Singh 3-0-10-0, Srivastava 18-5-44-3, Murtaza 8-2-21-0, Kumar 16-5-38-2, Chawla 32-6-100-5, Shukla 5-1-7-0, Kaif 4-1-3-0.

Uttar Pradesh — 2nd innings: M. Kaif c & b Yomahesh 13, S. Raina lbw b Ashwin 32, P. Chawla st. Varun Kumar b Badrinath 18, P. Kumar c Badrinath b Ashwin 5, J. Yadav c Sathish b Ashwin 1, R.P. Srivastava (not out) 18, A. Murtaza c Sathish b Ashwin 4, R.P. Singh b Ashwin 0, S. Shukla (not out) 3. Extras (b-1, nb-5) 6. Total (for seven wkts. in 25 overs) 100.

Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-66, 3-72, 4-74, 5-78, 6-89, 7-89.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Yomahesh 6-0-31-1, Jesuraj 2-0-11-0, Ashwin 10-4-23-5, Naresh 2-0-12-0, Badrinath 5-0-22-1.

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