Tamil Nadu’s Ram, Warrier hurt Maharashtra

Pune: Tamil Nadu batter Vijay Shankar was still on 96 when the teammates gave a loud cheer with a prolonged applause.
The cheering was for batter No. 9 Ajith Ram, who got off the mark after spending 123 minutes and 43 balls.
At stumps on the third day, Maharashtra were 104-3 in their second innings and were leading by 146 runs, as Tamil Nadu made 404 in their first essay in their Ranji Trophy match at the MCA Stadium in Gahunje on Thursday.
While Shankar’s innings helped Tamil Nadu a big deficit, Ram’s defiant stance frustrated Maharashtra as the match was headed for a draw, unless the hosts scores some fast runs and have a crack at the visitors on Friday.
On Thursday morning, Tamil Nadu were struggling at 317-7 when Ram came in to bat with Shankar. The left-arm spinner and left-handed batter either blocked or left balls without getting tempted to score.
The duo took Tamil Nadu to 371 before Shankar’s inside edge hit the stumps off Ashay Palkar’s away delivery. Ram then shifted gears and started scoring and reduced Maharashtra’s lead to only 42 before getting out for 24 in 88 balls (2x4s, 1x6).
Opening the day, Maharashtra pace trio – Palkar, Rajvardhan Hangargekar and Pradeep Dadhe – sent Pradosh Paul (84), Saai Kishore (1) and Ashwin Crist (18) respectively within 90 minutes of the day’s play.
But they failed to get Shankar and Ram, who batted almost till tea. By then, they had reduced the margin and delayed Maharashtra’s batting in the second innings.
In the second innings, it was right-arm pacer Sandeep Warrier’s (3-37) turn to hurt Maharashtra.
The hosts didn’t get off to a good start as they lost opener Siddhesh Veer (0) off the first ball of the third over by Warrier, caught by Baba Indrajith in the first slip.
Warrier continued to trouble opener Ruturaj Gaikwad and Rahul Tripathi. While Gaikwad ducked the bouncers, he failed to judge a straight delivery that uprooted his off stump. Maharashtra 15/2.
Tripathi (61, 65b, 10x4s) looked in his T20 touch as he reached his half-century in 49 deliveries. He had already hit Warrier for two boundaries at the third-man position with his upper-cuts. But Tripathi played the shot once too many, with skipper Indrajith positioning himself a little up to take a diving catch. Maharashtra 104/3.