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Wednesday, Nov 07, 2007
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Tamil Nadu saves itself the blushes

Special Correspondent

Skipper Badrinath fights off physical illness to play an innings of character

— Photo: R. Ragu

GRITTY KNOCK: For all his physical struggle, Badrinath’s batting rarely looked laboured.

CHENNAI: Character is revealed in crisis, and Tamil Nadu, on Tuesday, had several revelations that warmed the heart.

To put it in context, it must be said that the Maharashtra bowlers — barring Munaf Patel — comprised a less than threatening attack; the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium strip had few devils; and Tamil Nadu was fighting to stay in the contest — not setting up play, as was expected of the host against a Maharashtra side so young, a majority of its members haven’t shaved yet.

But, a lost toss, poor discipline with the new ball, and a lack of penetration on a batting wicket had pushed Tamil Nadu into a tough spot in its Ranji Trophy super league match.

Resuming on 58 for three in response to Maharashtra’s 430, S. Badrinath’s side needed to bat all day to deny Maharashtra three points.

At various stages on Tuesday, it looked unlikely Tamil Nadu would survive; but, each time the side found a man for the fight.

No praise can be too high for Badrinath. Food poisoning kept him home on Monday; when he walked out at 132 for five, he looked decidedly wan. Indeed, he spent most of his time between deliveries doubled up in pain. After a weak poke at the first ball he faced, he got underway with a crisp cut.

For nearly two and a half hours, Badrinath battled in the heat. On 26, he took a runner (Dinesh Karthik), giving himself some breathing space.

When he looked like a boxer down for the count, he called for a restorative draught of water.

Finally, having reached 72, he couldn’t continue. He had to be helped off the field; he was put on drips in the dressing room.

For all his physical struggle, Badrinath’s batting rarely looked laboured. He struck three sixes in his 121-ball innings, and each time a relaxed swing conveyed the ball over the rope.

Calm under pressure

Badrinath put on 41 with the left-handed K. Shri Vasudeva Das — their union ending with the kind of confusion that seems around the corner when a runner is part of the action — before adding 66 with R. Srinivasan.

While Vasudeva Das’s was an important innings, for he kept one end up, Srinivasan’s 62 (117b, 9x4) on Ranji debut stood out for its calm under pressure. Moreover, Srinivasan looks the part: he is a compact little player, whose technique seems well put-together. A high left elbow adds aesthetically. With his athleticism in the field, Srinivasan is a good addition to the Tamil Nadu side. His 67-run partnership with R. Ashwin — fast becoming a valuable asset — ensured Maharashtra wasn’t allowed into the match after Badrinath left.

Ashwin (51 n.o., 120b, 9x4) batted out 50 minutes in V. Yomahesh’s company — with Badrinath padded up in the pavilion — before fading light forced the players off the field, four overs short. Dinesh Karthik’s 56 (96b, 7x4, 1x6) had earlier helped Tamil Nadu through a tricky period in the morning. The sides took a point each from the match.

The scores:

Maharashtra — 1st innings: 430

Tamil Nadu — 1st innings: S. Anirudha c Venugopala b Sayyed 21, M. Vijay b Sayyed 4, R. Prasanna c Jadhav b Patel 16, D. Karthik c More b Agarkar 56, C. Ganapathy c More b Munaf 4, K. Shri Vasudeva Das run out 33, S. Badrinath retd. hurt 72, R. Srinivasan c More b Venugopala 62, R. Ashwin (not out) 51, V. Yomahesh (not out) 6, Extras (b-4, lb-3, nb-3, w-3): 13; Total (for seven wickets, in 116 overs) 338.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-39, 3-58, 4-65, 5-132, 6-173, 7-306.

Maharashtra bowling: Munaf 22-9-29-2, Agarkar 31-5-118-1, Sayyed 20-5-57-2, Mundhe 15-4-32-0, Suryawanshi 13-1-60-0, Kadiwale 1-0-4-0, Jadhav 1-0-9-0, Venugopala 13-5-22-1.

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