Ranji Trophy | Sai Kishore, Ajith put TN on the cusp of win

Spin twins: Ajith (in image) and Kishore shared the spoils as Goa folded for a paltry complete. File
| Photo Credit: R. Ragu

S. Prasanna Venkatesan

PORVORIM Left-arm spinners Ajith Ram (4 for 36) and Sai Kishore (4 for 82) helped Tamil Nadu bowl out Goa for 168 in its second innings on day three of the elite Group-C match in the fifth spherical of the Ranji Trophy at the Goa Cricket Association (GCA) Academy floor right here on Sunday.

Centurion in the first innings, Goa opener Suyash Prabhudessai top-scored with 79 (183b, 6×4). He engaged in a 59-run third-wicket partnership with Krishnamurthy Siddharth (32, 55b, 4×4, 1×6), and that was the solely irritating half for Tamil Nadu on the day.

Pacer M. Mohammed had two shut leg-before shouts towards Prabhudessai, and appeared to bother him, identical to he had completed in the first innings.

Prabhudessai had his moments. He remarkably slapped a reverse-sweep off Ajith Ram behind sq. and swept Sai Kishore to deep backward sq. boundary for fours.

At occasions, he failed to attach his reverse-sweep and sweep. It was one such occasion that led to him getting dismissed leg- earlier than off Ajith Ram.

Pradosh Ranjan Paul claimed two wickets together with his off-spin. Siddharth and Deepraj Gaonkar caught by Baba Indrajith at first- slip.

Sai Kishore had Ishaan Gadekar bowled by way of the gate, Manthan Khutkar caught by Boopathi Vaishna Kumar at ahead short- leg, Darshan Misal leg-before, and Arjun Tendulkar caught by Pradosh at first-slip.

Pradosh accomplished 1000 Ranji Trophy runs in his thirteenth match.

With 9 wickets in hand, Tamil Nadu wants 76 runs to win on Monday.

The scores: Goa —1st innings: 241.

Tamil Nadu —1st innings: 273.

Goa —2nd innings: Suyash Prabhudessai lbw b Ajith 79, Ishaan Gadekar b Sai Kishore 8, Manthan Khutkar c Boopathi b Sai Kishore 0, Krishnamurthy Siddharth c Indrajith b Pradosh 32, Darshan Misal lbw b Sai Kishore 12, Deepraj Gaonkar c Indrajith b Pradosh 9, Arjun Tendulkar c Pradosh b Sai Kishore 8, Samar Dubhashi lbw b Ajith 0, Mohit Redkar lbw b Ajith 4, Lakshay Garg (not out) 5, Heramb Parab c Boopathi b Ajith 4; Extras (lb-7) 7; Total (in 65.5 overs): 168.

Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-23, 3-82, 4-109, 5-139, 6-155, 7-155, 8-159, 9-160.

Tamil Nadu bowling: Sai Kishore 24-5-82-4, Warrier 11-3-11-0, Pradosh 9-1-18-2, Mohammed 4-2-6-0, Ajith 13.5-2-36-4, Kuldeep 4-1-8-0.

Tamil Nadu —2nd innings: Suresh Lokeshwar (batting) 34, Narayan Jagadeesan b Misal 4, Pradosh Ranjan Paul (batting) 22; Extras (b-1) 1; Total (for one wicket in 26 overs ): 61.

Goa bowling: Misal 13-3-22-1, Arjun 2-0-5-0, Redkar 11-0-33-0.