TN set up title clash against Karnataka

Kolkata, March 1
Tamil Nadu edged out last edition’s runners-up Maharashtra by virtue of first innings lead in a drawn encounter today, to set up a summit clash with their southern rivals and reigning champions Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy.
In sharp contrast to their positive attitude yesterday, Maharashtra never looked in the right frame of mind today in pursuit of Tamil Nadu’s mammoth first innings total of 549, as they were bundled out for 454 to concede the decisive first innings lead to the two-time former champions here at the Eden Gardens.
With this victory, Tamil Nadu have made it to their 12th Ranji final appearance, and first since 2011-12.
Resuming the day on 394 for five, Maharashtra could manage to add just 60 more runs to their last night’s tally before being bundled out. It was man-of-the-match Vijay Shankar, who triggered the collapse, dismissing the two overnight batsmen in three balls in his first over of the day after Abhinav Mukund brought the seamer in the 11th over of the day from the pavillion end.
“Shankar is developing into a good allrounder. He had a great spell yesterday and I felt he was unlucky and brought him as the first change this morning and the move clicked,” Mukund said. Shankar also scored 91 in Tamil Nadu’s first innings.
Earlier, Tamil Nadu wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik was fined 40 percent of his match fee for showing dissent at umpires’ decisions and excessive appealing. — PTI

Ranji Trophy 
Brief scores

• Tamil Nadu: 549 & 119/0 in 46.2 overs (Mukund 66*, Aparajith 51*); Maharashtra: 454 all out in 142 overs (Gugale 154, Khurana 125, Bawne 57; Crist 4/89)