da dobrowin： The second day’s play in the Ranji Trophy semifinal at theWankhede stadium on Wednesday saw Tamil Nadu and Mumbai sharehonours
da doce： Anand Vasu12-Apr-2000The second day’s play in the Ranji Trophy semifinal at theWankhede stadium on Wednesday saw Tamil Nadu and Mumbai sharehonours. Although Mumbai managed to wrap up the Tamil Naduinnings pretty soon, they too lost quick wickets. This leavesthe match interestingly poised.Resuming on 397/4, Tamil Nadu captain Robin Singh had hopes ofmaking 600 and batting Mumbai out of the game. Hemang Badaniplayed across the line and was trapped LBW by Santosh Saxenaafter adding just 10 runs to his overnight score and this didnot help Tamil Nadu’s cause. The southpaw had made a brilliant162 and yet was hardly the talking point at the Wankhede Stadium.His knock was overshadowed completely by the events involvingHansie Cronje that unfolded yesterday.Robin Singh toiled manfully at his end while a series ofbatsmen breezed in and out of the crease. Stumper Reuben Paulplayed as though it was the end of a limited overs game,carving four boundaries in his 20 ball essay at the crease thatyielded as many runs. He had his stump uprooted by a Saxenayorker when he attempted one too many loose drives.Sadagopan Mahesh played cautiously for 14 but was undone by ashooter from Ajit Agarkar. Keeping low, the ball crept under thebat and pegged the stumps back. Aashish Kapoor, wearing a maroonhelmet and made up like a Caribbean cricketer, tried to hookan Agarkar bouncer. Unfortunately it takes more than a maroonhelmet to make a Caribbean batsman. Shockingly late on the shot,Kapoor only managed to get the ball straight up in the air. Wicketkeeper Sameer Dighe pouched the catch and sent Kapoor onhis way before he could trouble the scorers.Robin Singh displayed a cool temperament, grafting for runsand swaying out of the way of anything short. At lunch, RobinSingh was unbeaten on 182. Thirunavukarasu Kumaran, Tamil Nadu’slast man had five to his name and the visitors were 484/9. Thefirst session on the second day clearly belonged to Mumbai.Just after lunch Kumaran was bowled through the gate by AbeyKuruvilla. Robin Singh, high and dry on 183 not out walked offthe field to hearty applause. Though Mumbai had pulled thingsback with some good bowling, Tamil Nadu were still on solidground with 485 on the board.Opening for Mumbai, skipper Sameer Dighe and Wasim Jaffer motoredalong well till Jaffer failed to pick an arm ball from AashishKapoor and was caught at slip. Dighe managed to keep thescoreboard ticking over with intermittent boundaries. JatinParanjpe too looked good while he was at the crease, sweepingwell against the spinners. When Mahesh got a ball to straightenon him and had him caught behind, Sachin Tendulkar walked outto the middle amidst roaring applause. The little master wasin cracking form. Middling the ball from the word go,Tendulkar dominated the seamers completely.Dighe was dismissed after scoring a half century with justeight overs to go before stumps. Rajesh Pawar was sent inas nightwatchman but he did not last the duration. This broughtVinod Kambli to the crease. The two childhood friends saw Mumbaisafely through to stumps at 141/4.
