Chhattisgarh Draws Buchi Babu Semifinal with Lakshay Jain's Ten-Wicket Haul

Chhattisgarh Draws Buchi Babu Semifinal with Lakshay Jain’s Ten-Wicket Haul

Off-spinner Lakshay Jain’s remarkable performance propelled Chhattisgarh to a tame draw against TNCA XI in the Buchi Babu semifinal at the NPR College cricket ground in Natham. Jain’s five-wicket haul in the second innings, coupled with his five-wicket haul in the first innings, gave him a match haul of ten for 216.

Chhattisgarh, having secured the first-innings lead, opted not to enforce the follow-on. However, TNCA XI’s batting lineup struggled against Jain’s guile. Mohammad Irfan was dismissed leg before wicket, while Amandeep Khare’s expansive cover drive was thwarted by the spinning ball.

Khare, who had earlier struck two sixes, shared a 60-run seventh-wicket stand with left-hander Gagandeep Singh (30). However, Jain’s relentless bowling proved too much for TNCA XI, as he dismissed Jeevesh Butte and Anuj Tiwari in quick succession.

The umpires ended the match prematurely due to the lack of competitive play. Chhattisgarh’s first-innings total of 467, featuring Ayush Pandey’s 82, Anuj Tiwari’s 93, Amandeep Khare’s 97, and Prateek Yadav’s 109, proved to be insurmountable for TNCA XI.

Chhattisgarh Dominate TNCA XI with Yadav's Century and Khare's 97

Chhattisgarh Dominate TNCA XI with Yadav’s Century and Khare’s 97

Left-handed batsman Prateek Yadav and skipper Amandeep Khare played pivotal roles as Chhattisgarh amassed a formidable 450 runs for nine wickets before rain halted play on day two of their semifinal clash against TNCA XI in the Buchi Babu cricket tournament at the NPR College cricket ground in Natham.

Yadav, who resumed his innings on 61, accelerated his scoring and reached his century with two towering sixes off left-arm spinner Ajith Ram. He displayed his aggressive intent, charging at the bowler for a long-off six and slog-sweeping over mid-wicket for his century off just 113 deliveries.

Yadav’s partnership with Khare, who had resumed his attritional batting from overnight, flourished to 164 runs. Khare, known for his patient approach, flicked Achyuth for a four through mid-wicket and cover-drove Sonu for a similar outcome. He also reverse-swept Lakshay’s off-spin to deep backward point and lofted it to long on for two more boundaries.

However, Khare’s innings came to an end when he mistimed a wide delivery from Lakshay, resulting in a sharp low catch by Mokit Hariharan at short fine leg. Khare departed with a well-crafted 97 off 267 deliveries.

Chhattisgarh’s innings was eventually declared at 450 for nine after 146.2 overs. Ajith Ram and Lakshay Jain were the most successful bowlers for TNCA XI, claiming four wickets each.

In the other semifinal match played in Tirunelveli, Hyderabad posted a total of 313 runs. TNCA President’s XI responded with 291 for six wickets at the close of play, with S. Rithik Easwaran (83 batting) and M. Mohammed (41 batting) holding the crease.

TNCA President's XI Rally with Unbroken Partnership in Buchi Babu Semifinal

TNCA President’s XI Rally with Unbroken Partnership in Buchi Babu Semifinal

TNCA President’s XI rallied to post a respectable 291 for six on day two of the Buchi Babu semifinal against Hyderabad in Tirunelveli. The team’s recovery was sparked by an unbroken 91-run seventh-wicket partnership between S. Rithik Easwaran (83 batting) and M. Mohammed (41 batting).

Hyderabad’s left-arm spinner Tanay Thyagarajan had earlier given his side the advantage with a four-wicket haul, dismissing openers S. Radhakrishnan and R. Vimal Khumar (75) and later Andre Siddharth and A. Badrinath cheaply.

However, Easwaran and Mohammed steadied the innings, guiding TNCA President’s XI out of a precarious position. Easwaran, in particular, played a crucial role, hitting six fours and two sixes in his patient knock.

Earlier, Khumar and K.T.A. Madhava Prasad (40) had provided a solid start for TNCA President’s XI, putting on 94 runs for the second wicket. But Thyagarajan’s intervention, followed by the dismissals of Madhava Prasad and Vimal, left the team reeling at 200 for six.

Hyderabad, who had posted 313 in their first innings, will be looking to capitalize on their 22-run lead when play resumes on day three. TNCA President’s XI, on the other hand, will need to bat aggressively to put pressure back on their opponents.

Ajith Ram: The Tireless Workhorse of Tamil Nadu Cricket

Ajith Ram: The Tireless Workhorse of Tamil Nadu Cricket

Ajith Ram, a rising star in the Tamil Nadu cricket team, has emerged as a tireless workhorse in the ongoing Buchi Babu tournament semifinal against Chhattisgarh. Despite the wicket offering little assistance to spinners, Ram has toiled relentlessly, bowling 42 overs in two days and claiming four wickets for 109 runs.

Ram’s unwavering determination to bowl long spells stems from his belief that it provides ample opportunities to outwit batters. “I love bowling a lot. Long spells mean more chances to pick up wickets,” he said. “I enjoy the challenge of plotting a batter’s dismissal.”

The 24-year-old spinner has carried his impressive form from the previous Ranji Trophy season into this tournament. He credits his success to his ability to adjust his bowling to the conditions and the batter’s strengths. “When you bowl a lot in the long format, you can build up patiently for a batter,” he explained. “I like that a lot.”

Ram’s contributions have been crucial for Tamil Nadu, who are aiming to reach the final of the tournament. He has not only been economical with the ball but has also chipped in with valuable runs down the order. “It’ll be better if I could contribute to the team with the bat,” he said.

Ram’s performance has caught the attention of cricket pundits, who believe he has the potential to become a mainstay in the Tamil Nadu team and even the Indian national side. His ability to bowl long spells, control the run rate, and take wickets makes him a valuable asset to any team.

As Tamil Nadu continues its quest for victory in the Buchi Babu tournament, Ram is expected to play a pivotal role. His tireless work ethic and unwavering determination will undoubtedly be key factors in his team’s success.

Home
Shop
Wishlist0
Back to Top

Search For Products

Product has been added to your cart