Debutant pacer Gurjapneet Singh’s exceptional spell (9-5-7-4) in the second innings propelled Tamil Nadu to a commanding position against Saurashtra in the Ranji Trophy (Elite Group D) clash at the Sri Ramakrishna College ground on Sunday.
TN, who resumed day three on 278 for three, were bowled out for 367 at the stroke of lunch, securing a 164-run first-innings lead. Gurjapneet, wicketless in the first essay, wreaked havoc on the Saurashtra top-order, leaving the opposition reeling at 16 for five.
The tall left-arm seamer exploited the new ball effectively, coming around the wicket and shaping it away from the right-handers. He also judiciously employed the short ball and claimed his maiden wicket when Chirag Jani, surprised by a bouncer, pulled it straight to mid-wicket.
Gurjapneet then dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara, trapping him plumb in front for a duck. Parshwaraj Rana was the next to go, edging a pull to the keeper down the leg-side before Prerark Mankad got squared up and was caught behind.
Earlier in the day, another left-arm pacer and Saurashtra skipper, Jaydev Unadkat (six for 61), led from the front as he scythed through the TN middle order with the second new ball, claiming his 24th five-for in first-class cricket.
The veteran pacer kept it full, swinging it both ways and pinning the batters to the crease in his seven-over burst (7-3-13-4) that saw the home team lose five wickets for 18 runs.
However, 18-year-old debutant C. Andre Siddarth (38) played an assured knock and, alongside M. Mohammed, added 60 runs for the ninth-wicket to take the lead past 150.
With rain expected on the fourth and final day, Sai Kishore’s men will desperately hope for sunshine as they sense an opportunity to start the season with a big win.
