Tail wags to Lord over TN

Tamil Nadu showed in no small measure that they had done their homework well to get rid of Mumbai's top-order batsmen. However, when it came to dislodging Test man Shardul Thakur on Day Two of their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Mumbai, they were akin to befuddled students struggling with an out-of-syllabus question paper.

At the MCA-BKC ground on Sunday, Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur (or should that read all-rounder now?) utterly changed the equation in favour of Ajinkya Rahane & Co, scoring his maiden century in just 89 balls.

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Tanush Kotian during his 74 not out yesterday

Coming in as a No.9 batter, Thakur smashed 109 in just 105 balls with the help of 13 fours and four sixes to help Mumbai post 353-9, to lead by 207 runs.
No.10 batter Tanush Kotian, who scored an unbeaten 120 against Baroda, picked up where he left off last week at the same venue. His back foot drives and temperament to counter TN's bowling was as good as any top-order batsman. He not only gave Thakur great support as they put on 79 runs in just 76 balls. He also stayed unbeaten on 74 (10x4). Kotian's No.11 partner Tushar Deshpande, who also scored a century in the previous game, is giving him company with 17 not out.

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Maiden ton for Shardul

Playing his 81st first-class game, Thakur, 32, went past his previous individual highest of 87, when he smashed left-arm spinner Ajith Ram for a four with a front foot helicopter shot. In the next over, Thakur countered Ram's negative strategy by hitting an inside out six over long-off to bring up his maiden century.

Around 300 people turned up at the MCA-BKC ground hoping for the Mumbai batting line-up to shine. But some of the batsmen were anything but radiant and appeared clueless while tackling the impressive TN bowling in the first session.

TN skipper and left-arm spinner Sai Kishore (6-97), who sent back opener Bhupen Lalwani on Saturday afternoon, bowled 22 overs non-stop; his first spell of the day reading 22-6-51-4.

Musheer Khan (55, 6x4) was the only batsman, who looked confident before lunch, but he also fell to Kishore when was brilliantly stumped by Narayan Jagadeesan.

Kishore, 27, proved why he is the season's highest wicket-taker with 53 wickets so far, when he broke the fourth wicket, 43-run stand between Musheer and skipper Ajinkya Rahane (19), dismissing Rahane through first slip fielder Baba Indrajith.

Sai Kishore on fire

Kishore's 19th over was massive for the TN team as he dismissed Musheer and Shams Mulani (0) in the space of three balls.

Much was expected from India player Shreyas Iyer but he ended up being the only batter to be dismissed by a pace bowler.

Iyer's eight-ball stay at the crease for his three runs was ended by Sandeep Warrier (1-66) through an incoming delivery.

Post lunch, when Haradik Tamore (35, 3x4) and Thakur resumed their innings at their individual score of eight each and the team's total of 125-7, they batted with a dominating mindset. Thakur back foot-punched two successive fours and executed an off-drive off Ram in the first over after the interval. He then welcomed Kishore with a six over the mid-wicket fence off a well-timed sweep. Thakur and Tamore put on 100 runs in 131 balls and got the momentum back in favour of the hosts.

"I think we got bogged down a little in the first session. There was not too much happening today [Sunday] in the pitch and I felt the batsmen should have played with some kind of freedom to start with," Thakur said.

Thakur appeared to have it all covered as he walked out. "You might as well play with freedom and that was the whole idea when I started batting," he said.

At the end of the day, everyone had a good idea of what he can produce with a bat in hand. The Mumbai camp owed him more than a pat of kudos.

Brief scores
TN 146 all out v Mumbai 353-9 (S Thakur 109, T Kotian 74', M Khan 55, H Tamore 35; S Kishore 6-97, K Sen 2-65)